Paris Agreement Enters Into Force

During my ongoing literature review I often discover interesting facts about things I’ve never thought about. Sometimes I can connect these facts with my own observations: The result is mostly a completely new idea why things are as they are. Maybe these ideas are new to you, too. Therefore I’ll share my new science based knowledge with you!

This week: This time, I think about the fact that the Paris Agreement was ratified by 55 countries that account for at least 55% of global emissions and has entered into force.

Last year, on 12 December 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted by consensus by all of the 196 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) member parties. The UNFCCC member parties agreed to take action against global warming by reducing their CO2 emissions in order to limit global warming to well below 2°C on average. About 11 months later, on 4 November 2016, the Paris Agreement entered into force, thus setting a strong signal to globally act on climate change as the agreement had to be ratified by 55 countries that account for at least 55% of global emissions before.

We do have the power to save the world.

Although this is a huge step forward towards a carbon free society, it is just the beginning. Now, as the Paris Agreement has entered into force, we need to take action and start to come up with solutions and ways in order to reduce our emissions. Unfortunately, the pact mostly consists of aims and not firm commitments as well as many items that are just voluntary and not binding. Therefore, it is even more important to continue to dicuss global warming in order to rise the awareness for this global problem.

Nature.

It is critical that people all over the world realize the urgency to act now to save our Pale Blue Dot and to keep the Earth a beautiful place for future generation. As this is a global problem, it can only be solved when we start to work together. We as inhabitants of our planet need to urge our leaders that we want to step away from fossil fuels and reduce human-made emissions. The power lies in our hands as we can put pressure on our leaders as well as the industry to come up with innovations for an environmental friendly future.

When we help the movement around the Paris Agreement to gain momentum then 4 November 2016 can become a historic day on which the world has changed and the Paris Agreement truely has turned into „a message of life“.