Michaela Kane
From November 30th through December 11th, nearly 200 countries met for the 21st annual Conference of the Parties in Paris, France. The conference was held to discuss a solution for global warming. The representatives from each country worked together to reach an agreement that will gradually end climate change worldwide.
This agreement established steps and requirements each country needs to abide by in order to keep global warming controlled. The overall plan is to keep climate change below 2 degrees celsius by creating plans to cut planet- warming greenhouse gas pollution, and to cause a fundamental shift from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. Everyday life emits greenhouse gases through electricity, heat, and transportation.This year’s Climate Talks was a success and scientists agree that the final agreement could lead to a better tomorrow. The agreement states that countries will need to make plans to keep climate change below 2 degrees celsius and will need to review those plans every five years after 2020. These plans could be the first step to slowing down climate change.
Greenhouse gases are harmful to the planet because they trap heat in the atmosphere, thus making the planet warmer. Global warming may not seem like a problem at first glance, but it causes some long term damage to the planet. According to NASA, temperatures are expected to rise between 2.5 degrees and 10 degrees over the next century. In turn, sea levels are predicted to rise 1-4 feet because of melting glaciers; droughts and heatwaves will become more common, and hurricanes will be stronger and more intense.
The actual text of the deal calls on all countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, to create a plan to keep global warming to a minimum and avoid scientists’ fears. With a plan in motion, developed countries are expected to help out the countries that are still developing by donating a large sum of money to them. Africa alone may need up to $600 billion in order to adapt and solve climate change, but the question is whether or not the developed countries will foot the bill.
President Obama wants to get ahead of climate change and give $3 billion to other countries, but it is still awaiting approval from congress. Countries, such as China (the top polluter) and India, are pushing hard for the US and other developed countries to contribute more. The US alone has vowed to cut its pollution by at least 27% by 2025, and has already begun making restrictions on carbon emissions from power plants and other polluters. China has promised to slow down its emissions by 2030, then they will make the restrictions necessary. Nearly 200 other countries have made individual commitments to cut climate change.
This year’s Climate Talks was a success and scientists agree that the final agreement could lead to a better tomorrow. The agreement states that countries will need to make plans to keep climate change below 2 degrees celsius and will need to review those plans every five years after 2020. These plans could be the first step to slowing down climate change.
The actual text of the deal calls on all countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, to create a plan to keep global warming to a minimum and avoid scientists’ fears. With a plan in motion, developed countries are expected to help out the countries that are still developing by donating a large sum of money to them. Africa alone may need up to $600 billion in order to adapt and solve climate change, but the question is whether or not the developed countries will foot the bill.
President Obama wants to get ahead of climate change and give $3 billion to other countries, but it is still awaiting approval from congress. Countries, such as China (the top polluter) and India, are pushing hard for the US and other developed countries to contribute more. The US alone has vowed to cut its pollution by at least 27% by 2025, and has already begun making restrictions on carbon emissions from power plants and other polluters. China has promised to slow down its emissions by 2030, then they will make the restrictions necessary. Nearly 200 other countries have made individual commitments to cut climate change.
This year’s Climate Talks was a success and scientists agree that the final agreement could lead to a better tomorrow. The agreement states that countries will need to make plans to keep climate change below 2 degrees celsius and will need to review those plans every five years after 2020. These plans could be the first step to slowing down climate change.
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