Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement, a landmark accord within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, ideally to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It's newsworthy due to recent data indicating the world is failing to meet its targets. Specifically, 2025 was the third-warmest year on record, exceeding the 1.5C limit. Analysis shows the richest 1% of the world's population have already exhausted their fair share of carbon emissions for 2026, highlighting inequality in climate impact. Furthermore, the US withdrawal from the UNFCCC and related agreements, initiated earlier, continues to be a point of contention. Studies also warn of accelerated glacier melt and the concerning shift of some rainforests from carbon sinks to carbon sources. These developments underscore the urgent need for increased climate action and highlight the challenges in achieving the Paris Agreement's goals.