In 2015, the world`s leaders signed the Paris Agreement, a landmark international accord on climate change. The goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, with a further aim of pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
Since then, a total of 189 countries have joined the Paris Agreement, making it the most broadly supported international climate agreement in history. These countries span the globe and include both developed and developing nations. The United States, under the Obama administration, was among the signatories of the agreement. However, in 2017, former President Donald Trump announced that the United States would be withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. President Joe Biden reversed this decision in 2021, returning the United States to the list of countries supporting the agreement.
Some of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases are among the countries that have ratified the Paris Agreement. China, the world`s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, joined the agreement in 2016, along with India, the third-largest emitter. The European Union, which includes many of the world`s wealthiest nations, is also a signatory to the agreement.
Many smaller, poorer countries have also joined the Paris Agreement, recognizing the devastating impact that climate change could have on their populations. For example, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu is one of the smallest and most vulnerable countries in the world, with a population of fewer than 12,000 people. Despite its limited resources, Tuvalu was one of the first countries to ratify the Paris Agreement, highlighting the commitment of its government and people to fighting climate change.
In conclusion, the Paris Agreement is a critical international effort to address the urgent threat of climate change. With 189 countries as signatories, including some of the world`s largest emitters as well as small, vulnerable countries, the Paris Agreement represents a global consensus on the need to take urgent action to limit global warming. The recent decision by the United States to re-join the Paris Agreement is a positive step toward this shared goal.