Paper: GS – III, Subject: Environment and Ecology, Topic: Global Initiative, Issue: Paris Agreement Impact on Climate Action.
Context:
In climate policy, the Paris Agreement has been a catalyst for clean-tech advancements and has put the world in a better position to address climate change than it would have been without it.
Key Highlights:
The Apparent Failure:
- The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, aimed to limit global warming to well below 2°C and ideally 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
- However, global carbon emissions are still rising, and some countries have weakened their climate commitments.
- The US withdrew from the agreement under President Trump, and the EU has weakened some environmental regulations.
- The 1.5°C target appears increasingly unattainable, with recent years exceeding that threshold.
The Multi-Prisoner’s Dilemma:
- The Paris Agreement lacks penalties for inadequate action, creating an incentive for countries to “free-ride” on the efforts of others.
- Petro-states are reluctant to give up the substantial profits from their oil and gas businesses.
Examples of Green Transition in Action:
- Pakistan is experiencing a solar boom driven by high electricity prices and power failures.
- Many African countries are set to replicate this expansion with solar panel imports from China.
- Ethiopia and Nepal are embracing electric vehicles (EVs) to save money on fuel imports and reduce air pollution.
Economic Incentives Driving Change:
- The shift to cleantech is increasingly driven by economic factors, making it a sustainable transition.
- The Paris Agreement has sparked a green revolution that is just beginning to take off.
Even if it evolves, the Paris Agreement sparked a green revolution, advancing clean technologies and market incentives, proving it a catalyst for positive climate action rather than a failure.
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