COP21

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an environmental agreement on climate change made between many different countries. The United Nation’s 21st annual Conference of the Parties (COP) was held in Paris from 30 November to 11 December 2015. This climate conference is commonly known as COP21. COP22 will be held 7-18 November in Marrakech, Morocco.

ECOHZ participated in the Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF15), the largest business-focused event held during COP21, with 750 attendees from across the globe. This shows how companies are taking an additional step and influencing the climate agenda.

A legally binding, universal agreement

COP21 achieved a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change also known as the Paris Agreement. It aims to limit the world’s rise in average temperature to “well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.” The text represents a consensus of the 196 nations at the conference. This will enable us to combat climate change effectively and boost the transition towards low-carbon economies and societies. To achieve this, the agreement focuses on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve society’s ability to adapt to climate change. On 22 April 2016, 174 countries signed the agreement in New York and began adopting it.

COP21 was one of the largest international conferences ever held with 50,000 participants and 25,000 delegates from government, intergovernmental organisations, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society.

Renewable energy

The Paris Agreement makes renewable energy the preferred source of energy for countries to reach the goals they have committed to. Consuming clean renewable energy and reducing your carbon footprint or creating new renewable energy while consuming renewable energy are all ways companies can reach these global targets.

Background

At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the UNFCCC was established. The framework aimed to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions and avoid interference with the climate system. The first COP took place three years later in 1995 to review the framework implemented in Rio. At COP3 the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, COP 11 the Montreal Action Plan was produced, COP15 in Copenhagen was the basis for emission reduction pledges for 202 and COP17 is where the Green Climate Fund was created.