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News > France

UN Climate Talks End in Agreement at COP24 in Katowice

  • UN Climate Talks End in Agreement at COP24 in Katowice.

    UN Climate Talks End in Agreement at COP24 in Katowice. | Photo: Reuters

Published 15 December 2018
Opinion

Over 200 countries have finally come to an agreement with regards to a set of rules to govern the 2015 Paris climate accord.

After two weeks of tense negotiations at the COP24 Summit in Katowice, Poland there is finally an agreement with regards to a set of rules that will help curb the threat of global warming.

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The 2015 Paris climate accord's goal is to keep the increase in global average temperature to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and to limit the increase to 1.5°C, in order to reduce the risks and effects of climate change.

Furthermore, each participant of the accord - also known as the Paris Agreement, must determine, plan, and regularly report on the contribution that it takes to alleviate global warming. 

Interestingly enough, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intentions to withdraw the U.S. from the accord, even though they are responsible for doing more to cause climate change than any other country, according to a report from CNN.

Unfortunately for Trump, according to the Paris Agreement, they cannot withdraw until Nov.4, 2020 at the earliest.

At the event in Katowice, the objective was to reduce the possibility of global warming, that scientists say are caused by emissions of gases such as carbon dioxide. According to a study in the U.S. News and World Report, these emissions need to drop sharply by 2030 to prevent a potentially catastrophic disaster.

Key outcomes from the accord include the funding for smaller developing countries, to help them cope with the costs of "greening" their economies and cope with future climate changes.

Additionally, the rules also enjoin rich nations to boost support over the next two years, and provide hard data on where future financial flows will come from, according to a report from the Straits Times.

There is a long way to go until the possibility of a full agreement with all participants, but today's outcome has provided a platform from which to grow.

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