Legal Status of Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement, which was adopted by 195 countries in December 2015, is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. Its main goal is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The legal status of the Paris Agreement is a complex issue, as it involves both international law and domestic law in each participating country. The Agreement itself does not have the force of law, but it creates binding obligations for the signatory countries.

Under international law, the Paris Agreement is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is a legally binding treaty that was adopted in 1992. The UNFCCC sets out the goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

The Paris Agreement builds upon the UNFCCC by setting more ambitious goals and establishing a framework for countries to regularly report on their progress in meeting those goals. The Agreement also includes provisions for financial support to developing countries and for the transfer of climate-friendly technology.

In order for the Paris Agreement to become legally binding in each participating country, it must be ratified according to that country`s domestic legal procedures. In the United States, for example, the President can sign the Agreement, but it must also be approved by Congress.

In November 2016, the United States officially ratified the Paris Agreement, joining the other signatory countries in committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. However, in June 2017, President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Agreement, citing concerns about its impact on the American economy.

Despite the US withdrawal, the Paris Agreement remains in force and continues to be supported by the majority of countries around the world. Its legal status will continue to evolve as countries work to implement its provisions and meet its goals.