As the world continues to grapple with the devastating consequences of climate change, it’s easy to assume that international agreements on the issue have been a dismal failure. After all, we’re still seeing rising temperatures, melting polar ice caps, and extreme weather events that seem to be getting more intense by the year. But what if I told you that, beneath the surface, the international agreements on climate change are actually making a difference? And no, it’s not because they’re saving the world single-handedly, but rather because they’re setting the stage for a larger, more comprehensive effort to address the crisis.
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Let’s start with the Paris Agreement, the most high-profile international agreement on climate change. Signed in 2015 by almost 200 countries, the agreement aimed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees. While the agreement’s goals may seem ambitious, it’s worth noting that the mere fact that countries came together to set these targets in the first place was a major achievement.
Since the Paris Agreement, many countries have made significant strides in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. For example, Norway has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, while Costa Rica has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2050. Even the United States, under the Obama administration, set a goal to reduce its emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025 – a goal that was later taken back by the Trump administration, but one that could be revisited under a future administration.
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But the Paris Agreement is just the tip of the iceberg. There are several other international agreements on climate change that are making a difference, even if they receive less attention. For example, the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has been in place since 2005 and has successfully reduced emissions from power plants and industrial processes.
In addition, the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty signed in 1987 to protect the ozone layer, has also had a positive impact on climate change. By phasing out the production of ozone-depleting substances, the protocol has not only helped to heal the ozone layer but also reduced the production of greenhouse gases. And let’s not forget about the Copenhagen Accord, signed in 2009, which established a framework for developed countries to provide financing and technology to developing countries to help them transition to a low-carbon economy.
So, what’s the problem, then? Why don’t we hear more about these successes? There are a few reasons. For one, the media often focuses on the most sensational and dramatic stories, which can create a skewed perception of the issue. Second, the progress made so far is often slow and incremental, making it harder to get attention. And finally, there’s a lack of coordination and communication between governments, civil society, and the media, which can make it difficult to amplify the successes and build momentum.
Despite these challenges, there’s still reason to be optimistic. The international agreements on climate change may not be saving the world single-handedly, but they’re setting the stage for a larger, more comprehensive effort to address the crisis. And with the current generation of young people, who are growing up with climate change as a reality, there’s a new sense of urgency and momentum around the issue.
So, the next time someone tells you that international agreements on climate change are a failure, you can set them straight. They’re actually working, even if you don’t hear about it every day. And with continued progress, coordination, and communication, we might just see the kind of transformation we need to address the climate crisis.
