parisThe 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Paris from 30 November to 12 December 2015. The conference reached its objective to achieve a global agreement on climate change, which was adopted with acclamation by nearly all states. The agreement will become legally binding if at least 55 countries that represent at least 55% of global greenhouse emissions sign and ratify it at the latest until 21 April 2017. It is expected to take effect in 2020.

The expected key result was to limit the global warming by 2100 to below 2 degrees Celsius. This goal was supplemented in the adopted version of the Paris Agreement with the statement that parties “pursue to” limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to the scientists, a 1.5°C goal will require a zero-level in emissions during the second half of the century.

However, in spite of French excellent diplomacy, which contributed to the success of the conference, there is no detailed time plan or country-specific goals for emissions reduction stated in the final version of the Paris Agreement. At the moment, there are no binding commitments and enforcement mechanism.

France served as a model country for delegates because it is one of the few developed countries in the world to decarbonize electricity production and fossil fuel energy. As of 2012, France generates over 90% of its electricity from zero carbon sources.

In addition: graphics explaining climate change