How does the Paris Agreement aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

The Paris Agreement aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by establishing a global framework to limit the rise in global temperatures to well below 2 °C above preindustrial levels, while pursuing efforts to restrict the increase to 1.5 °C.12

To achieve these objectives, the agreement utilizes several key strategies:

• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Countries are tasked with submitting and updating plans every five years that detail their specific measures to limit or reduce emissions.13
• Global Peaking and Balance: Parties aim to reach a global peak in emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between human-caused emissions and removal by sinks (such as forests and oceans) after 2050.1
• Cooperation and Support: The agreement emphasizes transparency and the transfer of technology and financial resources from developed countries to less-developed countries (LDCs) to assist in both mitigation and adaptation efforts.13
• Compliance: While there is no punitive enforcement mechanism, the treaty utilizes a non-adversarial committee to promote compliance and ensure regular reporting of progress.1