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Response: The Paris Agreement

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The 2015 Paris Agreement

Summary

 
  • This was an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to deal with mitigating greenhouse-gas emissions, adaptation, and finance.
  • The goal is to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels; and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C by reducing emissions as soon as possible.
  • Adopted by 196 state parties 12 December 2015, and signed by 189 countries by February 2020

  International targets: 

  • 5% reduction below 1990 gross emissions for the period 2013-2020 (failed)
  • 30% reduction below 2005 (or 11% below 1990) gross emissions for the period 2021-2030.
The Paris Agreement in 2015 looked to have changed climate aspiration, but here we are 8 years later still discussing action plans, when these should have been in place already. – Nature Climate Change 2024
 

  New Zealand’s original targets:

  • Net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases other than biogenic methane (agriculture) by 2050.
  • Biogenic methane emissions will be reduced 24-47% by 2050, but only 10% below 2017 emissions by 2030.

  New Zealand’s 2025 revised targets:

  • Biogenic targets scrapped.
  • Net emissions will be reduced by 51–55% below gross 2005 levels by 2035.
  • This revised target contradicted by Government reversing all policies to enable emissions reductions:

Government climate strategy: Let it burn – Marc Daalder, Newsroom, Nov. 2025

  Response

Other sections

Home > Climate wiki > Response > The Paris Agreement

Summary

 
  • This was an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to deal with mitigating greenhouse-gas emissions, adaptation, and finance.
  • The goal is to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels; and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C by reducing emissions as soon as possible.
  • Adopted by 196 state parties 12 December 2015, and signed by 189 countries by February 2020

  International targets: 

  • 5% reduction below 1990 gross emissions for the period 2013-2020 (failed)
  • 30% reduction below 2005 (or 11% below 1990) gross emissions for the period 2021-2030.
The Paris Agreement in 2015 looked to have changed climate aspiration, but here we are 8 years later still discussing action plans, when these should have been in place already. – Nature Climate Change 2024

  New Zealand’s original targets:

  • Net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases other than biogenic methane (agriculture) by 2050.
  • Biogenic methane emissions will be reduced 24-47% by 2050, but only 10% below 2017 emissions by 2030.

  New Zealand’s 2025 revised targets:

  • Biogenic targets scrapped.
  • Net emissions will be reduced by 51–55% below gross 2005 levels by 2035.
  • This revised target contradicted by Government reversing all policies to enable emissions reductions:

Government climate strategy: Let it burn – Marc Daalder, Newsroom, Nov. 2025

Aims and processes

The aim is (was) 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 reflected each country’s ambition for reducing emissions, taking into account its domestic circumstances and capabilities. This because some countries could 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 force 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. 

In 2025 the New Zealand Government scrapped virtually all policies and recommendations to enable emissions reductions.

Fig. 1: Projected temperature increases under current policies
Fig. 1: Projected temperature increases under current policies
Fig. 2: In 2019, New Zealand's commitments to reduce net emissions (see 'Explainer') weren't enough to stay within what the IPCC deemed as 'safe' temperature increase of 1.5°C above pre-Industrial levels. Our committments also exceed the 'dangerous' 2°C levels. Click image to be taken to the Nature article (2019). In December 2025, New Zealand was re-evaluated from 'Insufficient' to 'Highly Insufficient' (Fig. 3 below)
Fig. 2: In 2019, New Zealand’s commitments to reduce net emissions (see ‘Explainer’) weren’t enough to stay within what the IPCC deemed as ‘safe’ temperature increase of 1.5°C above pre-Industrial levels. Our committments also exceed the ‘dangerous’ 2°C levels. Click image to be taken to the Nature article (2019). In December 2025, New Zealand was re-evaluated from ‘Insufficient’ to ‘Highly Insufficient’ (Fig. 3 below)
Fig. 3: In 2025 New Zealand was reclassed as 'Highly Insufficient'. Click image to be taken to Climate Action Tracker for more details and updates.
Fig. 3: In 2025 New Zealand was reclassed as ‘Highly Insufficient’. Click image to be taken to Climate Action Tracker for more details and updates.

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