The Paris Agreement, a landmark accord reached in 2015, aims to combat climate change by limiting the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to cap it at 1.5 degrees Celsius. This pact was born in a highly contentious political time. It came on the heels of Malcolm Turnbull’s ascendance to Prime Minister, after jettisoning Tony Abbott. The timing was remarkable, signed just weeks after the horrific Paris metro terror attacks. This timing couldn’t have been more fitting as it showcased the urgent intersection of global challenges.
Barack Obama played a pivotal role in shaping the Paris Agreement, declaring it “the best chance we have to save the one planet we’ve got.” For many, the accord represented a turning point in the arc of global warming. At the time of its signing, projections indicated that the world was on a path toward a staggering 4 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100. Current projections have improved slightly, now estimating a rise between 2.3 and 2.8 degrees Celsius, although this still represents a dangerous level of warming.
The positive result is that the projections have gotten better since we signed the deal. Overall, our ambition of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius remains in danger. The experts expect this key milestone will be crossed in less than a decade. Developments to phasing deployments This state of affairs is particularly acute. After all, last year was the warmest on record, with global temperatures soaring above 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels for an entire year.
The Road to Paris: Significant Milestones
The Paris Agreement was born out of a lot of hard-fought diplomacy. It was an unprecedented global recognition of climate change as an urgent and key issue. In the years prior to the treaty, multiple scientific assessments highlighted the catastrophic consequences of failing to act. “Forty years ago when I started working on this issue we were heading towards 5 to 6C of warming,” stated climate expert Jackson, reflecting on how far discussions have evolved.
The secret to the Paris Agreement’s success was its inclusivity. Obama noted, “We figured if we could get China on board then you now had the two largest emitters — the United States and China… if we got both those countries on board, then we could bring on others.” This meant that developed nations and emerging economies had to work together as partners. Despite their different priorities and level of responsibility for emissions, they looked for compromise.
Turnbull—who played a pivotal role in Australia’s entry into the agreement, emphasized the economic transformations that are now on the way as this environmental endeavor unfolds. “The vast industrial efficiency of the Chinese manufacturing system has resulted in clean energy technologies becoming much cheaper than they had been hitherto and available to the whole world,” he remarked. This assertion is indicative of a larger pattern in which policy, especially the insult of being “unseen,” has contributed to tremendous cost declines for renewables driven by technological improvements.
Current Challenges and Future Directions
Even though the Paris Agreement provided a legally binding framework for international cooperation on climate action, their implementation is not without challenges. As our global emissions hit record highs once again, it is apparent that most countries are still not living up to their promises made in the international accord. The legitimacy of net-zero climate goals hinges on rapid decarbonization rather than an over-reliance on carbon removal strategies, particularly those dependent on land use.
Far from it, especially experts strongly caution about continuing down the current trajectory. A recent report highlighted that “an estimated 16,600 people lost their lives across European cities during the summer of 2025 alone as a result of increased temperatures from the burning of fossil fuels.” Statistics like this show the very real impacts of climate inaction and highlight the need for transformative policy solutions now.
Dr. Friederike Otto pointed out another critical aspect: “The difference between 1.3C of global warming and 2.6C is the difference between life and death for thousands of people and, of course, ecosystems.” This sobering reality drives home how critical each fraction of a degree is. Each minor adjustment, though, adds up to a major difference in protecting human life and saving species.
International accords, such as the Paris Accord, achieve more than just creating ambitious new targets. Their goal is to set new global standards for ambitious and effective climate action. Jackson articulated this notion succinctly: “It’s not international agreements that reduce emissions… What they do is set global norms, and then it’s up to national governments to act on those norms.” This bottom-up view only further strengthens the argument that local and national governments must act boldly to respond to international commitments.
Progress in Renewable Energy
Despite uncertainties surrounding emissions reductions, there have been notable advancements in renewable energy technologies since the Paris Agreement took effect. The cost of solar generation per watt has decreased by more than 90%. This solar decline is an exciting time to make solar power more affordable and accessible! Additionally, solar capacity is being installed at an astonishing rate—15 times faster than what was predicted by the International Energy Agency.
These changes indicate that we’re on the cusp of making great strides with renewable energy adoption to help fight climate change. Experts warn that we need to accompany these technological advancements with robust policy infrastructures. International cooperation is equally key to ensuring positive impacts endure.
