2015 Paris Climate Change Conference: COP21PARIS

From 30 November to 11 December 2015, Paris aims to continue their plans to hold the 21^st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21/CMP11). It is also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference.

The conference aims to result in an international climate agreement to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius (compared with the pre-industrial era – about 1850). There are 196 signatories (195 country States plus the European Union) will be attending. France will facilitate the debate between country States to adopt an agreement.

Before the conference each country was required to publish its national contribution on their efforts to achieve progress towards mitigating global warming. Each countries’ efforts are called intended national determined contributions (iNDC).

Another essential goal in Paris is to mobilize 100 billion dollars (78 billion euros) each year – contributed by all country States, the private sector, and international organizations – from 2020. A milestone has been reached with the initial capital of the Green Climate Fund, amounting to $9.3 billion, including nearly $1 billion from France.

Many large-scale initiatives have already been developed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other bodies, associations, and businesses. These initiatives are called the Solutions Agenda.

The Solutions Agenda includes initiatives to reduce litter and waste, limit carbon footprints, the creation of jobs, the use of short supply chains, and optimized transportation.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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