Source: Down
to Earth 01 May 2023 ("WMO report shows 2015 Paris Agreement failed to
deliver, fossil fuel treaty needed to complement it")
Q.
Why in News/Context -
· World Meteorological Organization (WMO)released its State of the Global Climate 2022 report which pointed out that the Paris Agreement on Climate Change has failed to deliver on its agenda/targets.
Q. Highlights of the
report
-
· The last
eight years, 2015-2022, have consecutively been the warmest years on record globally.
· The
situation could have been far worse if the La Nina weather event had not
occurred in the past three years, which has a cooling effect on the weather
system.
· Even the
recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth assessment report report
suggested that neither nationally determined contributions (NDC) nor the
disaster risk reduction and climate risk management plans are in place to
combat climate-induced extreme weather phenomena.
· Globally
updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to limit global
warming failed even to achieve 2°C target forget 1.5°C one.
· The Paris Agreement has not been able to equitably phase out fossil fuels predominantly responsible for the climate crisis.
|
Prelims Special- The World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of
193 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), the roots of which were planted
at the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress. Established by
the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the
specialised agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and
climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences a year
later. The Secretariat, headquartered
in Geneva, is headed by the Secretary-General. Its supreme body is
the World
Meteorological Congress. |
Q. Suggestions/Recommendations:
o We need a new global framework in the form of a
fossil fuel treaty to complement the 2015 agreement. This can drive green
transition through international cooperation
o Most industrialised
and emission-belching countries have not been following through on their commitments
and carrying out their responsibilities. They should be made to follow the
Paris Agreement’s commitments seriously.
o We need accelerated
climate action with deeper, faster emissions cuts to limit global temperature
rise to 1.5°C.
o There is a need
to undertake massively scaled-up investments in adaptation and
resilience, particularly for the most vulnerable countries and
communities who have done the least to cause the crisis.
Q. What
is the Paris Agreement on Climate Change?
· The Paris
Agreement is a legally binding
international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at
the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015.
It entered into force on 4 November 2016.
· Its
overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to
well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the
temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
