The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted in 2015 by 196 countries. The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the fight against climate change, and it would not have been possible without the cooperation of signatory countries.
So, who are the signatories of the Paris Agreement?
All 196 countries that participated in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are considered signatories of the Paris Agreement. The UNFCCC is an international treaty that was signed at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and was designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
The Paris Agreement was opened for signature on April 22, 2016, and by that time, 174 countries had signed the agreement. As of 2021, 191 countries have ratified the agreement, making it one of the most widely supported environmental agreements in history.
Some of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, such as China and the United States, have signed the Paris Agreement. The United States, under the Obama administration, played a key role in the negotiations leading up to the agreement`s adoption, but it withdrew from the agreement in 2020 under President Trump. However, President Biden has since rejoined the agreement.
Other major countries that have signed the Paris Agreement include India, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Canada, and most European Union member states. Many African, Caribbean and Pacific island states are also signatories to the agreement.
The Paris Agreement is a significant achievement in the fight against climate change, and it shows that countries from all corners of the world are coming together to tackle this global challenge. The signatories to the agreement represent a diverse group of countries with varying levels of development, economic systems, and political structures, but they all share a common goal of creating a sustainable future for our planet.
In conclusion, the signatories of the Paris Agreement are 196 countries that participated in the UNFCCC, with 191 countries having ratified the agreement as of 2021. This group includes some of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, such as China and the United States, as well as many smaller and less developed countries. The broad support for the Paris Agreement demonstrates the world`s commitment to tackling climate change and creating a sustainable future for us all.