Paris Agreement

Quick Facts: Who was Paris Agreement?

Subject:

Paris Agreement

Known for:

International treaty aiming to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Paris Agreement (also called the Paris Accords or Paris Climate Accords) is an international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. The Paris Agreement was negotiated by 196 parties at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference near Paris, France. As of January 2026, 194 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are parties to the agreement. Of the three UNFCCC member states which have not ratified the agreement, the only major emitter is Iran.

Career & Major Achievements

The United States, the second largest emitter, withdrew from the agreement in 2020, rejoined in 2021, and withdrew again in 2026. The Paris Agreement has a long-term temperature goal which is to keep the rise in global surface temperature to well below 2 °C (3.6 °F) above pre-industrial levels. The treaty also states that preferably the limit of the increase should only be 1.5 °C (2.7 °F). These limits are defined as averages of the global temperature measured over twenty years. The lower the temperature increase, the smaller the effects of climate change can be expected.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

To achieve this temperature goal, greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced as soon as, and by as much as, possible. They should even reach net zero by the middle of the 21st century. To stay below 1.5 °C of global warming, emissions need to be cut by roughly 50% by 2030. This figure takes into account each country's documented pledges. After the Paris Agreement was signed, global emissions continued to rise rather than fall.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2015: 2015 Milestone — The Paris Agreement was negotiated by 196 parties at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference near Paris, France.
2. 2016: 2016 Milestone — The Paris Agreement (also called the Paris Accords or Paris Climate Accords) is an international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016.
3. 2020: 2020 Milestone — The United States, the second largest emitter, withdrew from the agreement in 2020, rejoined in 2021, and withdrew again in 2026.
4. 2026: 2026 Milestone — As of January 2026, 194 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are parties to the agreement.

Notable Quotes by Paris Agreement

“The goal is to keep the rise in global surface temperature to well below 2 °C (3.6 °F) above pre-industrial levels.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Paris Agreement

True or False: “The Paris Agreement legally mandated that developed countries must cut emissions by a specific percentage, similar to the Kyoto Protocol.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Unlike previous protocols, the distinction between developed and developing countries is blurred, requiring all nations to submit plans for emission reductions.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abbas Kiarostami — Historical peer (Died in 2016) (2016): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Agnes Nixon — Historical peer (Died in 2016) (2016): Pioneering soap opera writer and producer, creator of 'One Life to Live' and 'All My Children'.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Abdullah of Saudi Arabia — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): King of Saudi Arabia, known for his role in modernizing the kingdom's governance.
• Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi — Historical peer (Died in 2026) (2026): Yemeni politician who served as the second President of Yemen from 2012 to 2022.
• Abdullah Ibrahim — Historical peer (Died in 2026) (2026): Pianist and composer, considered the leading figure in the subgenre of Cape jazz.
• Alan Parker — Historical peer (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Albert Uderzo — Historical peer (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering French comic artist, co-creator of the iconic Astérix series.
• Aaron Beck — Historical peer (Died in 2021) (2021): Father of Cognitive Therapy and CBT, revolutionizing psychiatric treatment.
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika — Historical peer (Died in 2021) (2021): Algerian politician who served as the seventh President of Algeria from 1999 to 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions about Paris Agreement