10 Years of the Paris Agreement (2015–2025)
Table of Contents
Source: The Indian Express
Relevance:
Climate change, Sustainable development, Energy transition
Important Keywords for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- Paris Agreement, UNFCCC, NDCs / INDCs, Kyoto Protocol vs Paris Agreement, Global Stocktake, CBDR–RC, Climate Finance / NCQG, CBAM
For Mains:
- Global groupings, international agreements, Sustainable development, climate change, energy transition, Global climate governance, equity, climate finance, development vs mitigation
Why in News?
- The Paris Agreement completed 10 years in November 2025.
- Triggered a global re-evaluation due to:
- US exit in early 2025
- Finance and equity dissatisfaction among developing nations
- Shift in negotiating power at COP30 (Belém, Brazil)
- Growing debate on whether the Paris framework can deliver real climate outcomes.
Background: What is the Paris Agreement?
- Adopted in 2015 at COP21, Paris
- Operates under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- Legally binding framework, but national targets are voluntary
- Replaced the Kyoto Protocol, which applied only to developed nations
Objectives of the Paris Agreement
- Limit global temperature rise to:
- Well below 2°C, and
- Preferably 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
- Strengthen:
- Mitigation
- Adaptation
- Climate finance
- Promote low-carbon, climate-resilient development
Working Mechanism
- Bottom-up approach through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
- Every 5 years, countries must:
- Submit updated NDCs
- Increase ambition progressively
- Global Stocktake every 5 years:
- Assesses collective progress
- First completed at COP28 (2023)
- Paris Rulebook:
- Finalised at COP24 (Katowice) and COP26 (Glasgow)
- Sets rules for transparency, reporting, and verification
Key Achievements (2015–2025)
1. Universal Climate Participation
- 194 countries + European Union committed under a single framework
- First truly global climate agreement
2. Institutionalisation of Climate Action
- Climate policy mainstreamed into:
- National budgets
- Development planning
- Domestic laws
- Examples:
- EU Green Deal
- India’s Mission LiFE
3. Climate Finance Architecture
- Developed countries committed USD 100 billion/year till 2025
- COP29 (2024) adopted New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG):
- At least USD 300 billion annually by 2035
4. Equity Recognition
- Embedded Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR–RC)
- Acknowledges:
- Historical emissions
- Differing national capacities
5. Expansion of Climate Markets
- Growth of:
- Green bonds
- Carbon trading
- Climate-aligned investments
- However, scale remains insufficient
India and the Paris Agreement
India’s Commitments
- Submitted INDC in 2015, later adopted as NDC
- Key targets:
- 45% reduction in emissions intensity (from 2005 levels) by 2030
- ~50% electricity capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030
- Carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂
- Promotion of Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)
- Long-term goal: Net Zero by 2070
India’s Achievements
- Achieved 50% non-fossil electricity capacity in 2025, 5 years early
- Global leadership via:
- International Solar Alliance (ISA)
- Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
- Mission LiFE
- Climate strategy aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047
Major Concerns Regarding the Paris Agreement
1. Voluntary Commitments
- Shift from legally binding targets (Kyoto) to voluntary NDCs
- Weak enforcement and accountability
2. Equity Deficit
- Uniform expectations dilute CBDR
- Historical responsibility of developed nations under-addressed
- LDCs and SIDS face existential climate risks
3. Climate Finance Gap
- USD 300 billion NCQG seen as inadequate
- India and Global South demand:
- USD 1.3 trillion annually
- At least USD 600 billion as grants
4. Mitigation-Centric Bias
- Adaptation and resilience underfunded
- Problematic for climate-vulnerable countries
5. Development Constraints
- Trade tools like CBAM restrict policy space
- Limits industrialisation options of developing nations
6. Insufficient Ambition
- Current NDCs lead to 2.5–2.9°C warming
- Far from Paris targets
Shift in Global Climate Narrative (2025)
- Developing countries assert developmental sovereignty
- At COP30 (Belém):
- Fossil-fuel phase-out language resisted
- Equity and adaptation prioritised
- US withdrawal created leadership vacuum
- China, India, Brazil emerged as influential actors
China Model in Climate Action
- Development-first pathway
- Emissions rose during rapid industrialisation
- Parallel investments in:
- Renewables
- Electrification
- Clean technologies
- Commitments:
- Peak emissions before 2030
- Net zero by 2060
- Shows alternative sequencing: growth → decarbonisation
Way Forward: Strengthening Climate Governance
- From Voluntary to Enforceable Action
- Sector-wise carbon budgets
- Legally backed national targets
- Equal Focus on Adaptation
- Climate-resilient infrastructure
- Agriculture, water, early-warning systems
- Bridging Climate Finance Gap
- Fulfil developed-country obligations
- Reform MDBs
- Scale green bonds and blended finance
- Reinforcing Climate Justice
- CBDR–RC as guiding principle
- Fairness in carbon border measures
- Technology Access
- Renewables, storage, green hydrogen
- Patent pooling and South-South cooperation
- Strong Climate Governance
- Transparent MRV systems
- Credible climate science
Conclusion
The Paris Agreement succeeded in universalising climate action, but its voluntary nature, finance shortfalls, and equity gaps limit its effectiveness. The next phase of global climate governance must reconcile climate ambition with development justice. India’s approach—linking climate action with growth and resilience—offers a pragmatic and equitable pathway forward.
UPSC PYQ
Q. The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of (2016)
(a) pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East
(b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change
(c) capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(d) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals
Answer: (b)
CARE MCQ
The Paris Agreement differs fundamentally from the Kyoto Protocol because it:
(a) Imposes legally binding emission reduction targets on all countries
(b) Applies only to developed countries
(c) Follows a bottom-up approach based on Nationally Determined Contributions
(d) Excludes climate finance from its framework
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
- The Paris Agreement operates through voluntary, nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
- This marks a shift from the top-down, legally binding targets of the Kyoto Protocol, which applied only to developed countries.
