the united nations

• THE UNITED NATIONS

  • The UN sees climate change at the ‘defining issue of our time’
  • They explicitly outline how since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change.
  • They underscore how ‘the choices made in the next few years will play a critical role in deciding the future of [the] planet and the generations to come’.
• EFFECTIVENESS: Paris Agreement

  • Requires all countries to set emission-reduction pledges.
  • This has the goal of preventing the global average temperature from rising 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels
  • This also included pursuing efforts to keep it below 1.5 degrees. 
  • By 2050, it aims to reach net zero emissions. 
  • Every five years, countries are supposed to assess their progress through a process known as the global stocktake. 
• COP27: Loss and Damage Fund

  • This aimed to address the inequality of climate change by providing financial assistance to poorer countries, who are mostly least responsible for climate change but are the most susceptible to it’s damage. 
  • This encompassed the principles of accountability for businesses and institutions and climate finance for mitigation and adaption.  
  • Several wealthy countries (US, Japan, UK and EU) initially pledged around $430 million combined,
• INEFFECTIVENESS: The Paris Agreement

  • Through the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere keeps rising. 
  • Most experts say that countries’ pledges are not ambitious enough and will not be enacted quickly enough to limit global temperatures rising. 
  • ‘The Paris Agreement is not enough…it was only a first step’ - Council of Foreign Relations.
• • The main challenge associated with the Paris Agreement is enforceability.
  • While is monitors the reports of carbon emissions, it does not have the ability to force a country to reduce emissions. 
  • These responsibilities are passed to heads of states. 
  • Failure to meet obligations may result in the exertion of soft power to coerce actions. 
  • Major powers, like the US and China, as less susceptible to this, however, and are currently responsible for the most emissions.