Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene January - February 2016 vol.11 no.1 | Page 24

2015, November 30 to December 11 - PARIS Global climate deal Image copyright Reuters Image caption A participant takes a rest during the Paris talks Image copyright AP Image caption Campaigners take to the streets of Paris to warn that failure to act to curb temperature rises will cross a red line What’s in and what was left out? The goal of preventing what scientists regard as dangerous and irreversible levels of climate change - judged to be reached at around 2C of warming above pre-industrial times - is central to the agreement. In summary A global climate agreement has been finalized in Paris. What has been agreed? Overview The deal unites all the world’s nations in a single agreement on tackling climate change for the first time in history. Coming to a consensus among nearly 200 countries on the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions is regarded by many observers as an achievement in itself and is being hailed as “historic”. The world is already nearly halfway there at almost 1C and many countries argued for a tougher target of 1.5C - including leaders of low-lying countries that face unsustainable sea levels rises in a warming world. The desire for a more ambitious goal has been kept in the agreement - with the promise to “endeavour to limit” global temperatures even more, to 1.5C. Source : BBC News COP21: Ban announces ‘Climate Action 2016’ partnership to maintain momentum after UN climate conference The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 set emission cutting targets for a handful of developed countries, but the US pulled out and others failed to comply. However, scientists point out that the Paris accord must be stepped up if it is to have any chance of curbing dangerous climate change. Pledges thus far could see global temperatures rise by as much as 2.7C, but the agreement lays out a roadmap for speeding up progress. What were the key elements? • To keep global temperatures “well below” 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times and “endeavour to limit” them even more, to 1.5C • To limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity to the same levels that trees, soil and oceans can absorb naturally, beginning at some point between 2050 and 2100 • To review each country’s contribution to cutting emissions every five years so they scale up to the challenge • For rich countries to help poorer nations by providing “climate finance” to adapt to climate change and switch to renewable energy. 22 Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • January - February 2016 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaking on Action Day at the UN climate change conference. 5 December 2015. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe 5 December 2015 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today at the UN climate change conference (COP21) that a broad group of organizations will partner in 2016 to maintain momentum for multistakeho