Country | Date Paris Climate Agreement Signed↓ | Date Paris Climate Agreement Submitted | Type of Formal Agreement Employed | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Iraq | December 8, 2016 | November 1, 2021 | Ratification | |
Saudi Arabia | November 3, 2016 | November 3, 2016 | Ratification | |
Niue | October 28, 2016 | October 28, 2016 | Ratification | |
Yemen | September 23, 2016 | |||
Turkmenistan | September 23, 2016 | October 20, 2016 | Ratification | |
Nigeria | September 22, 2016 | May 16, 2017 | Ratification | |
Sierra Leone | September 22, 2016 | November 1, 2016 | Ratification | |
Kyrgyzstan | September 21, 2016 | February 18, 2020 | Ratification | |
Moldova | September 21, 2016 | June 20, 2017 | Ratification | |
Malawi | September 20, 2016 | June 29, 2017 | Ratification | |
Zambia | September 20, 2016 | December 9, 2016 | Ratification | |
Chile | September 20, 2016 | February 10, 2017 | Ratification | |
Armenia | September 20, 2016 | March 23, 2017 | Ratification | |
Togo | September 19, 2016 | June 28, 2017 | Ratification | |
Kazakhstan | August 2, 2016 | December 6, 2016 | Ratification | |
Ecuador | July 26, 2016 | September 20, 2017 | Ratification | |
Cook Islands | June 24, 2016 | September 1, 2016 | Ratification | |
Gambia | April 26, 2016 | November 7, 2016 | Ratification | |
Seychelles | April 25, 2016 | April 29, 2016 | Ratification | |
India | April 22, 2016 | October 2, 2016 | Ratification | |
China | April 22, 2016 | September 3, 2016 | Ratification | |
United States | April 22, 2016 | January 20, 2021 | Acceptance | |
Indonesia | April 22, 2016 | October 31, 2016 | Ratification | |
Pakistan | April 22, 2016 | November 10, 2016 | Ratification | |
Brazil | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Bangladesh | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Russia | April 22, 2016 | October 7, 2019 | Acceptance | |
Ethiopia | April 22, 2016 | March 9, 2017 | Ratification | |
Mexico | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Japan | April 22, 2016 | November 8, 2016 | Acceptance | |
Egypt | April 22, 2016 | June 29, 2017 | Ratification | |
Philippines | April 22, 2016 | March 23, 2017 | Ratification | |
DR Congo | April 22, 2016 | December 13, 2017 | Ratification | |
Vietnam | April 22, 2016 | November 3, 2016 | Approval | |
Iran | April 22, 2016 | |||
Turkey | April 22, 2016 | October 11, 2021 | Ratification | |
Germany | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
Thailand | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Tanzania | April 22, 2016 | May 18, 2018 | Ratification | |
United Kingdom | April 22, 2016 | November 18, 2016 | Ratification | |
France | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
South Africa | April 22, 2016 | November 1, 2016 | Ratification | |
Italy | April 22, 2016 | November 11, 2016 | Ratification | |
Kenya | April 22, 2016 | December 28, 2016 | Ratification | |
Myanmar | April 22, 2016 | September 19, 2017 | Ratification | |
Colombia | April 22, 2016 | July 12, 2018 | Ratification | |
South Korea | April 22, 2016 | November 3, 2016 | Ratification | |
Sudan | April 22, 2016 | August 2, 2017 | Ratification | |
Uganda | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Spain | April 22, 2016 | January 12, 2017 | Ratification | |
Algeria | April 22, 2016 | October 20, 2016 | Ratification | |
Argentina | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Afghanistan | April 22, 2016 | February 15, 2017 | Ratification | |
Canada | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
Angola | April 22, 2016 | November 16, 2020 | Ratification | |
Ukraine | April 22, 2016 | September 19, 2016 | Ratification | |
Morocco | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Poland | April 22, 2016 | October 7, 2016 | Ratification | |
Malaysia | April 22, 2016 | November 16, 2016 | Ratification | |
Mozambique | April 22, 2016 | June 4, 2018 | Ratification | |
Ghana | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Peru | April 22, 2016 | July 25, 2016 | Ratification | |
Madagascar | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Ivory Coast | April 22, 2016 | October 25, 2016 | Ratification | |
Cameroon | April 22, 2016 | July 29, 2016 | Ratification | |
Nepal | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
Venezuela | April 22, 2016 | July 21, 2017 | Ratification | |
Niger | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Australia | April 22, 2016 | November 9, 2016 | Ratification | |
North Korea | April 22, 2016 | August 1, 2016 | Ratification | |
Mali | April 22, 2016 | September 23, 2016 | Ratification | |
Burkina Faso | April 22, 2016 | November 11, 2016 | Ratification | |
Sri Lanka | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Chad | April 22, 2016 | January 12, 2017 | Ratification | |
Somalia | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Senegal | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Romania | April 22, 2016 | June 1, 2017 | Ratification | |
Guatemala | April 22, 2016 | January 25, 2017 | Ratification | |
Netherlands | April 22, 2016 | July 28, 2017 | Acceptance | |
Cambodia | April 22, 2016 | February 6, 2017 | Ratification | |
Zimbabwe | April 22, 2016 | August 7, 2017 | Ratification | |
Guinea | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Benin | April 22, 2016 | October 31, 2016 | Ratification | |
Rwanda | April 22, 2016 | October 6, 2016 | Ratification | |
Burundi | April 22, 2016 | January 17, 2018 | Ratification | |
Bolivia | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
Tunisia | April 22, 2016 | February 10, 2017 | Ratification | |
South Sudan | April 22, 2016 | February 23, 2021 | Ratification | |
Haiti | April 22, 2016 | July 31, 2017 | Ratification | |
Belgium | April 22, 2016 | April 6, 2017 | Ratification | |
Jordan | April 22, 2016 | November 4, 2016 | Ratification | |
Dominican Republic | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2017 | Ratification | |
United Arab Emirates | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Acceptance | |
Honduras | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Cuba | April 22, 2016 | December 28, 2016 | Ratification | |
Tajikistan | April 22, 2016 | March 22, 2017 | Ratification | |
Papua New Guinea | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Sweden | April 22, 2016 | October 13, 2016 | Ratification | |
Portugal | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
Azerbaijan | April 22, 2016 | January 9, 2017 | Ratification | |
Greece | April 22, 2016 | October 14, 2016 | Ratification | |
Hungary | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
Israel | April 22, 2016 | November 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Austria | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
Belarus | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Acceptance | |
Switzerland | April 22, 2016 | October 6, 2017 | Ratification | |
Laos | April 22, 2016 | September 7, 2016 | Ratification | |
Libya | April 22, 2016 | |||
Paraguay | April 22, 2016 | October 14, 2016 | Ratification | |
Bulgaria | April 22, 2016 | November 29, 2016 | Ratification | |
Serbia | April 22, 2016 | July 25, 2017 | Ratification | |
Republic of the Congo | April 22, 2016 | April 21, 2017 | Ratification | |
El Salvador | April 22, 2016 | March 27, 2017 | Ratification | |
Denmark | April 22, 2016 | November 1, 2016 | Approval | |
Singapore | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Lebanon | April 22, 2016 | February 5, 2020 | Ratification | |
Liberia | April 22, 2016 | August 27, 2018 | Ratification | |
Finland | April 22, 2016 | November 14, 2016 | Ratification | |
Norway | April 22, 2016 | June 20, 2016 | Ratification | |
Palestine | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Central African Republic | April 22, 2016 | October 11, 2016 | Ratification | |
Oman | April 22, 2016 | May 22, 2019 | Ratification | |
Slovakia | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
Mauritania | April 22, 2016 | February 27, 2017 | Ratification | |
Ireland | April 22, 2016 | November 4, 2016 | Ratification | |
New Zealand | April 22, 2016 | October 4, 2016 | Ratification | |
Costa Rica | April 22, 2016 | October 13, 2016 | Ratification | |
Kuwait | April 22, 2016 | April 23, 2018 | Ratification | |
Panama | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Croatia | April 22, 2016 | May 24, 2017 | Ratification | |
Georgia | April 22, 2016 | May 8, 2017 | Approval | |
Eritrea | April 22, 2016 | February 7, 2023 | Ratification | |
Mongolia | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Uruguay | April 22, 2016 | October 19, 2016 | Ratification | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | April 22, 2016 | March 16, 2017 | Ratification | |
Qatar | April 22, 2016 | June 23, 2017 | Ratification | |
Namibia | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Jamaica | April 22, 2016 | April 10, 2017 | Ratification | |
Lithuania | April 22, 2016 | February 2, 2017 | Ratification | |
Albania | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Gabon | April 22, 2016 | November 2, 2016 | Ratification | |
Botswana | April 22, 2016 | November 11, 2016 | Ratification | |
Lesotho | April 22, 2016 | January 20, 2017 | Ratification | |
Guinea-Bissau | April 22, 2016 | October 22, 2018 | Ratification | |
Slovenia | April 22, 2016 | December 16, 2016 | Ratification | |
Equatorial Guinea | April 22, 2016 | October 30, 2018 | Ratification | |
Latvia | April 22, 2016 | March 16, 2017 | Ratification | |
North Macedonia | April 22, 2016 | January 9, 2018 | Ratification | |
Bahrain | April 22, 2016 | December 23, 2016 | Ratification | |
Trinidad and Tobago | April 22, 2016 | February 22, 2018 | Ratification | |
Timor-Leste | April 22, 2016 | August 16, 2017 | Ratification | |
Cyprus | April 22, 2016 | January 4, 2017 | Ratification | |
Estonia | April 22, 2016 | November 4, 2016 | Ratification | |
Mauritius | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Eswatini | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Djibouti | April 22, 2016 | November 11, 2016 | Ratification | |
Fiji | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Comoros | April 22, 2016 | November 23, 2016 | Ratification | |
Solomon Islands | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Guyana | April 22, 2016 | May 20, 2016 | Ratification | |
Bhutan | April 22, 2016 | September 19, 2017 | Ratification | |
Luxembourg | April 22, 2016 | November 4, 2016 | Ratification | |
Suriname | April 22, 2016 | February 13, 2019 | Ratification | |
Montenegro | April 22, 2016 | December 20, 2017 | Ratification | |
Malta | April 22, 2016 | October 5, 2016 | Ratification | |
Maldives | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Cape Verde | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2017 | Ratification | |
Brunei | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Belize | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Bahamas | April 22, 2016 | August 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Iceland | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Acceptance | |
Vanuatu | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Barbados | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Sao Tome and Principe | April 22, 2016 | November 2, 2016 | Ratification | |
Samoa | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Saint Lucia | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Kiribati | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Grenada | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Micronesia | April 22, 2016 | September 15, 2016 | Ratification | |
Tonga | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | April 22, 2016 | June 29, 2016 | Ratification | |
Antigua and Barbuda | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Andorra | April 22, 2016 | March 24, 2017 | Ratification | |
Dominica | April 22, 2016 | September 21, 2016 | Ratification | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Liechtenstein | April 22, 2016 | September 20, 2017 | Ratification | |
Monaco | April 22, 2016 | October 24, 2016 | Ratification | |
Marshall Islands | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
San Marino | April 22, 2016 | September 26, 2018 | Ratification | |
Palau | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Nauru | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Tuvalu | April 22, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | Ratification | |
Uzbekistan | April 19, 2017 | November 9, 2018 | Ratification | |
Syria | November 13, 2017 | Accession | ||
Nicaragua | October 23, 2017 | Accession | ||
Vatican City | September 4, 2022 | Accession |
The Paris Climate Agreement, or the Paris Agreement, was an agreement that was drafted during the Paris Climate Conference in 2015. This landmark environmental accord was made within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to address climate change and its negative impacts. At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC), representatives from 196 countries met in Le Bourget, France, and negotiated the agreement’s language. On December 12, 2015, the accord was adopted by consensus.
The Paris Agreement is a 32-page document that establishes a framework for global action climate change. The agreement aims to: limit global temperature increase by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; provide a framework for transparency, accountability, and achievement of more ambitious targets, and mobilize support for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing nations. The Paris Agreement is important because climate change is a threat to the environment and all of humanity. Global warming threatens global weather patterns and can exacerbate natural disasters. Climate change endangers human health. Global warming can only be mitigated by a collective global action.
Hotter temperatures alter global weather patterns, leading to droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, floods, and fierce storms such as hurricanes. When hotter temperatures melt ice caps, glaciers, and permafrost, it causes rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Higher temperatures, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels disturb ecosystems and their migration patterns and life cycles. Climate change jeopardizes our air, water, and food; spreads disease; and threatens our safety. Every year, wildfires force tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Millions of acres are destroyed by the flames, taking many families’ homes with them. Climate change means an increase in pollution, which contributes directly to respiratory disease and cardiovascular deaths.
The general scientific view is that any rise in global temperatures of more than 2 degrees Celsius would be catastrophic for the Earth— causing severe natural disasters, a melted Arctic, and possible mass extinctions. When the entire planet is at risk, it takes the whole world to combat climate change. The agreement’s ultimate goal is capping the global warming rise this century to 1.5 degrees Celsius. While the 0.5-degree difference may not seem like a lot, it would dramatically impact low-lying nations and coral reefs.
Research has shown that the cost of inaction outweighs the cost of reducing carbon pollution. While President Trump claimed that the Paris Agreement would cost the U.S. economy $3 trillion by 2040 and 2.7 million jobs by 2025. However, one study suggest that the U.S. would lose as much as $6 trillion in the coming decades if it didn’t meet its Paris climate goals. Additionally, global GDP would decline by 25% if the world did not meet the goals laid out in the agreement. Additionally, the clean energy sector in the United States employs about 3 million workers— about 14 times that of the oil, gas, coal, and other fossil fuel industry employment. Further investments into clean, renewable energy industries could create more than 500,000 jobs by 2030.
A consensus among world leaders is rare, but with the Paris Agreement, leaders from around the world collectively agreed that climate change is driven by human behavior. The Paris Climate Agreement was negotiated at the UNFCCC by representatives of 196 countries and was adopted by consensus on December 12, 2015. The accord was signed on April 22, 2016, and became effective as of November 4, 2016. As of February 2020, all UNFCC members have signed the agreement, and 189 have become parties to it. The signatories that did not become parties are: Angola, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, South Sudan, and Turkey.