The historic Paris Agreement on climate change comes into force today with 195 nations signing a deal to halt global warming. 

CCTV’s Kate Parkinson looks back at what’s happened since representatives from nearly 200 nations agreed on the landmark climate pact in Paris last December.
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They agreed to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above than pre-industrial levels. The accord also laid out a long-term plan to reach peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible.

And every five years, each country’s progress in cutting emissions will be subject to review. Rich counties will also have to help poorer nations by providing “climate finance” to help them switch to renewable energy.

Four months later in New York 175 countries signed the accord. But there was another step before the Paris treaty could take effect – at least 55 countries accounting for at least 55 percent of global emissions needed to ratify the deal.

Efforts to bring the deal into force were given a big boost in September when China and the U.S.- the world’s two large greenhouse gas emitters – ratified the agreement.

The following month, the European Union did the same. That pushed the accord past the required threshold. The climate change agreement would come into force on November 4th.

US combat for climate change faces implementation challenges

For some countries, ratifying the Paris climate agreement may prove relatively easy compared to actually meeting their pledges to comply with the pact. The U.S. faces some major challenges in that regard.

And new research claims America’s current emissions reduction plan falls short of its Paris pledge.

CCTV’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports.
Follow Hendrik Sybrandy on Twitter @hsybrandy

At a recent energy symposium at Colorado State University, the Paris Agreement on climate change was front and center.

Political scientist Michele Betsill said a lot has been done by governments and businesses to meet the goals and spirit of the accord.

But the U.S., as one of the world’s top polluters, has its work cut out to meet its Paris pledge of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

Colorado State University’s Peter Backlund said without a tax on carbon emissions, which is not politically feasible, a series of policies will be needed in the U.S. to meet the 2025 target. He said higher fuel economy standards on cars and trucks and a cut in power plant emissions would represent two big steps.

Ranping Song on the enforcement of the Paris Agreement

To further discuss the enforcement of the Paris climate agreement, CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar spoke with Developing Country Climate Action Manager with the World Resource Institute, Ranping Song.