The ‘Paris Agreement’, the biggest environment agreement ever, was ‘adopted’ by more than 190 countries
The overall goal of the Paris agreement, to keep global temperature rise to a specified quantum
compared to pre-industrial levels, is pegged at either “below 1.5°C”, or, as “well below 2°C”.
India felt that a transparency and accountability regime should not treat rich and poor nations alike
India Position is based on logic that developing nation still lacks necessary technology to measure perils
of climate change. For example, India does not have the capacity to measure automotive emissions
based on vehicle use accurately, while the U.S. does that every year.
Salient feature of Draft
Developed country as Role model- Extent to which developing countries would effectively implement
their commitments would depend on developed countries living up to their own commitments on
financing, technology transfer and capacity building.
On peaking of greenhouse gas emissions- The discussion is on making it “as soon as possible” with the
caveat that peaking requires deeper cuts of emissions by developed countries and longer periods for
developing countries
Achieving zero GHG emissions growth by 2060-80 is proposed
Fund mobilisation - Appropriate pricing of greenhouse gas emissions in its many forms, is an important
instrument for the reorientation of investment and finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low
emission and climate resilient economies and societies.
Technology framework – By providing overarching guidance to the work of the Technology Mechanism”.
It would promote and facilitate enhanced action on technology development and transfer.
The agreement is much more comprehensive than the Kyoto Protocol which was limited to assigning
greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for a group of developed countries
It asks every country to make “nationally determined” contributions in the fight against climate change.
It also seeks to establish a mechanism by which the climate actions of all the countries can be
periodically monitored and evaluated to see whether the world was actually able to combat climate
change and whether the actions needed to be scaled up
Win- Win Situation for all
Developed Nation- The developed countries have ensured that henceforth climate actions would be
taken by every nation and not just them, as was the requirement in the existing climate framework
represented by the Kyoto Protocol of 1997.
Developing Nation- The developing countries were able to take heart from the fact that the allimportant
principle of ‘differentiation’ – that developed nations, being primarily responsible for
greenhouse gas emissions, must take greater action to fight climate change – has been retained, even
though in a diluted form
The island nations and least developed countries — Most vulnerable to climate change were happy to
have forced the rest of the world to acknowledge the need to take a 1.5 degree path instead of the 2 degree
it is more comfortable with.
Few of contentious issues which remain unsolved are underneath
Long term quantified emissions reduction for a 2050 target
Finance for developing countries
Updated targets for countries based on stocktaking of carbon dioxide, equitable distribution of the
remaining carbon budget for the world.
Making explicit the responsibility of developing countries versus developed nations
Binding targets: Countries have pledged their emission reduction targets. But these are only pledges. EU
and the US are strongly opposed to a legally binding road-map
Periodic Revision of Target- The emission reduction numbers don’t add for now and they need to be
revised every 5 years or so. Developed countries don’t accept any criteria that includes historical
accumulated emissions
Reporting action: After 2020 once the agreement comes in to force countries will have to report back
periodically how they are faring against their pledges. This could become the Trojan horse that brings
parity between the two without saying as much.
Developing country targets- most developing countries have made their targets for the Paris agreement
conditional on the nature of the Paris agreement as well as the delivery of finance and technology.
Developed countries want at least a part if not the full target from each developing country to be
enshrined unconditionally
Technology transfer: Developed countries oppose the proposals from different developing country
groups including India to address issues of intellectual property resources, future technology
development and an institutional arrangement for this under the Paris agreement.
Adaptation- Developed countries see the core agreement as only about reducing emissions and
accounting for these reductions
The overall goal of the Paris agreement, to keep global temperature rise to a specified quantum
compared to pre-industrial levels, is pegged at either “below 1.5°C”, or, as “well below 2°C”.
India felt that a transparency and accountability regime should not treat rich and poor nations alike
India Position is based on logic that developing nation still lacks necessary technology to measure perils
of climate change. For example, India does not have the capacity to measure automotive emissions
based on vehicle use accurately, while the U.S. does that every year.
Salient feature of Draft
Developed country as Role model- Extent to which developing countries would effectively implement
their commitments would depend on developed countries living up to their own commitments on
financing, technology transfer and capacity building.
On peaking of greenhouse gas emissions- The discussion is on making it “as soon as possible” with the
caveat that peaking requires deeper cuts of emissions by developed countries and longer periods for
developing countries
Achieving zero GHG emissions growth by 2060-80 is proposed
Fund mobilisation - Appropriate pricing of greenhouse gas emissions in its many forms, is an important
instrument for the reorientation of investment and finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low
emission and climate resilient economies and societies.
Technology framework – By providing overarching guidance to the work of the Technology Mechanism”.
It would promote and facilitate enhanced action on technology development and transfer.
The agreement is much more comprehensive than the Kyoto Protocol which was limited to assigning
greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for a group of developed countries
It asks every country to make “nationally determined” contributions in the fight against climate change.
It also seeks to establish a mechanism by which the climate actions of all the countries can be
periodically monitored and evaluated to see whether the world was actually able to combat climate
change and whether the actions needed to be scaled up
Win- Win Situation for all
Developed Nation- The developed countries have ensured that henceforth climate actions would be
taken by every nation and not just them, as was the requirement in the existing climate framework
represented by the Kyoto Protocol of 1997.
Developing Nation- The developing countries were able to take heart from the fact that the allimportant
principle of ‘differentiation’ – that developed nations, being primarily responsible for
greenhouse gas emissions, must take greater action to fight climate change – has been retained, even
though in a diluted form
The island nations and least developed countries — Most vulnerable to climate change were happy to
have forced the rest of the world to acknowledge the need to take a 1.5 degree path instead of the 2 degree
it is more comfortable with.
Few of contentious issues which remain unsolved are underneath
Long term quantified emissions reduction for a 2050 target
Finance for developing countries
Updated targets for countries based on stocktaking of carbon dioxide, equitable distribution of the
remaining carbon budget for the world.
Making explicit the responsibility of developing countries versus developed nations
Binding targets: Countries have pledged their emission reduction targets. But these are only pledges. EU
and the US are strongly opposed to a legally binding road-map
Periodic Revision of Target- The emission reduction numbers don’t add for now and they need to be
revised every 5 years or so. Developed countries don’t accept any criteria that includes historical
accumulated emissions
Reporting action: After 2020 once the agreement comes in to force countries will have to report back
periodically how they are faring against their pledges. This could become the Trojan horse that brings
parity between the two without saying as much.
Developing country targets- most developing countries have made their targets for the Paris agreement
conditional on the nature of the Paris agreement as well as the delivery of finance and technology.
Developed countries want at least a part if not the full target from each developing country to be
enshrined unconditionally
Technology transfer: Developed countries oppose the proposals from different developing country
groups including India to address issues of intellectual property resources, future technology
development and an institutional arrangement for this under the Paris agreement.
Adaptation- Developed countries see the core agreement as only about reducing emissions and
accounting for these reductions
