Response: The Paris Agreement
Image: IPCC
Aims and processes
The aim is to reach peak global greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, and to thereafter rapidly reduce emissions based on the best available science. To do so means reaching net zero emissions during the second half of this century.
Each climate plan reflects each country’s ambition for reducing emissions, taking into account its domestic circumstances and capabilities. This because some countries will be able to achieve this sooner than others based on their sustainable development goals and efforts to eradicate poverty, as these are critical development priorities for many developing countries.
However, it’s a non-binding agreement. That is, there are no mechanisms to forces any country to set a specific emissions target by a specific date.
In December 2019, the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act was passed to support New Zealand’s goals under the Paris Agreement.
Fig. 1: Projected temperature increases under current policies
Fig. 2: New Zealand’s commitments to reduce net emissions (see ‘Explainer’) are insufficient to stay within what the IPCC deemed as ‘safe’ temperature increase of 1.5°C above pre-Industrial levels. We also exceed the ‘dangerous’ 2°C levels.
