Blog Posts: cop21

Today the global community has jumped over the final hurdle to bring the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change into full effect. This marks an historic moment in the global transformation to a safer and more prosperous planet.

With the world now on the verge of crossing the thresholds for the Paris Agreement to enter into force, it’s time to start considering what comes next.

Sixty countries representing almost 48 percent of global emissions have now joined the Agreement, crossing one of the two thresholds needed to trigger its entry into force.

The UN will host a special ceremony this week for countries to formally join the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. We still need at least 26 countries representing at least 15 percent of global emissions to join before the deal will take effect.

The World Conservation Congress, held every four years, is one of the greatest demonstrations of conservation innovations. Three in particular provide promising opportunities to curb deforestation, protect wildlife and foster sustainable development.

The G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, this September brings together leaders of the world's largest economies for the first such gathering since the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate. China and Germany, the G20's current and incoming presidents, need to demonstrate leadership to prove that the top 20 largest economies are prepared to galvanize strong action on climate and clean energy.

Under the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, countries agreed to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F). While current national commitments are a substantial improvement, projected warming is still on course to produce dangerous climate impacts. Fortunately, several features of the Agreement can help strengthen national commitments over the long term.

The Paris Climate Agreement will only take effect once 55 countries representing at least 55 percent of global emissions formally join it. Recent action from Cameroon, Brazil, Iran and Ukraine make it more likely that will happen this year.

The United States and India have either created or ramped up 15 bilateral programs on climate change and clean energy over the past two years. The state visit next week is an opportunity to further advance the countries' collaboration in three areas.

Climate negotiations have shifted from what the Paris Agreement is to how it will be accomplished. The Bonn climate talks were the first opportunity to develop the rules and tools needed to truly put the Agreement into action.