The Paris Agreement, signed in 2016, is a landmark international treaty that aims to combat climate change. The agreement outlines specific goals and targets for each participating country to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
To monitor and track progress towards these goals, the Paris Agreement utilizes a system of benchmarks. These benchmarks serve as measurable indicators of progress and are used to assess whether countries are on track to meet their emissions reduction targets.
One of the key benchmarks of the Paris Agreement is the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These are the individual emissions reduction targets that each country has committed to achieving. The NDCs are submitted every five years, and countries are expected to progressively increase the level of ambition in their targets over time.
Another important benchmark is the global stocktake, which is conducted every five years to assess progress towards the Paris Agreement`s goals. The stocktake evaluates the collective progress of countries towards reducing emissions, adapting to the impacts of climate change, and providing financial and technological support to developing countries.
In addition to these benchmarks, the Paris Agreement also includes measures to enhance transparency and accountability. Each country is required to regularly report on their emissions and progress towards their NDCs, and a transparency framework has been established to ensure consistency and accuracy in reporting.
Overall, the Paris Agreement benchmarks provide a crucial framework for monitoring and assessing progress towards combating climate change. By setting clear targets and enhancing transparency and accountability, the benchmarks help to ensure that countries are taking concrete action to reduce their emissions and limit global warming. As we continue to face the growing threat of climate change, the Paris Agreement and its benchmarks will play a critical role in guiding our collective efforts to create a more sustainable future.