The EU Member States are among the 195 countries to have adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal.
The Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
We are currently building on this historic milestone: the EU is now negotiating with other parties at the ongoing COP26 in Glasgow to accelerate our emissions reductions, to mobilise climate funding and to boost innovation, in order to ensure a better future for our planet.
Key elements
The Paris Agreement is a bridge between today's policies and climate-neutrality before the end of the century.
- Governments agreed a long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels;
- to aim to limit the increase to 1.5°C, since this would significantly reduce risks and the impacts of climate change;
- on the need for global emissions to peak as soon as possible, recognising that this will take longer for developing countries;
- to undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with the best available science, so as to achieve a balance between emissions and removals in the second half of the century.
- As a contribution to the objectives of the agreement, countries have submitted comprehensive national climate action plans (nationally determined contributions, NDCs). These are not yet enough to reach the agreed temperature objectives, but the agreement traces the way to further action.
- Governments agreed to come together every 5 years to assess the collective progress towards the long-term goals and inform Parties in updating and enhancing their nationally determined contributions;
- report to each other and the public on how they are implementing climate action;
- track progress towards their commitments under the Agreement through a robust transparency and accountability system.
- Governments agreed to strengthen societies' ability to deal with the impacts of climate change;
- provide continued and enhanced international support for adaptation to developing countries.
- The agreement also recognises the importance of averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change;
- acknowledges the need to cooperate and enhance the understanding, action and support in different areas such as early warning systems, emergency preparedness and risk insurance.
- The agreement recognises the role of non-Party stakeholders in addressing climate change, including cities, other subnational authorities, civil society, the private sector and others.
- They are invited to scale up their efforts and support actions to reduce emissions;
- build resilience and decrease vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change;
- uphold and promote regional and international cooperation.
- The EU and other developed countries will continue to support climate action to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change impacts in developing countries.
- Other countries are encouraged to provide or continue to provide such support voluntarily.
- Developed countries intend to continue their existing collective goal to mobilise USD 100 billion per year by 2020 and extend this until 2025. A new and higher goal will be set for after this period.
Learn more about the Paris Agreement here → europa.eu/!b98uGc
Source: European Commission