Cuadra, Luis Alfonso L.

January 26, 2016

Essay Ambassador Tolentino

Environmental Law
Paris Summit

Just last year, from November 30 to December 12, 2015, The 2015 United Nations
Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11 was held in Paris, France. This Conference,
for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aimed to achieve a legally binding and
universal agreement on climate, with the objective of keeping global warming below 2C
compared to pre-industrial levels.1 Accordingly, global warming has long been established as a
fact and is caused by the rising levels of Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and rising
global temperatures2. And, as such, the participating 195 countries in the conference agreed, by
consensus, to the final global pact, the Paris Agreement, to reduce emissions as part of the
method for reducing greenhouse gases, to help stave off the most drastic effects of climate
change.

Ahead of the Paris talks, governments of 186 nations put forth public plans detailing how
they would cut carbon emissions through 2025 or 2030. In a bid to achieve the goal to curb
temperature rise, nations have submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions
(INDCs) to the UNFCCC. In the framework of COP21, each State was to publish its own INDC,
or Intended Nationally Determined Contribution, i.e. its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 2025-2030 in order to mitigate global warming. Countries can also choose
adaptation measures, meaning policies aimed at reducing the effects of global warming that are
already being felt3. However, pledges from 148 countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by
2030 are insufficient to limit global warming to 2 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as it
will only cut emissions by half the levels required to stave off the worst effects of global
warming. Analysis of the INDCS, endorsed by the UN, has suggested that these pledges are
enough to hold the world to about 2.7C or 3C of warming, which is not enough to meet the
scientific advice.4

1 Find out more about COP21. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2016, from http://www.cop21paris.org/about/cop21

2 Paris Summit 2015: Tackling Climate Change. (2015, November 30). Retrieved January 24, 2016, from
http://www.thehindu.com/specials/in-depth/paris-summit-2015-tackling-climate-change/article7932769.ece

3 What is the purpose of the national "contributions" (INDC)? (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2016, from
http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-national-contributions-indc

4 Harvey, F. (2015, June 2). Everything you need to know about the Paris climate summit and UN talks. Retrieved
January 24, 2016, from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/02/everything-you-need-to-know-about-
the-paris-climate-summit-and-un-talks
 Moreover, countries will be required to reconvene every five years, starting in 2020, with
updated plans that would tighten their emissions cuts. Countries will also be legally required to
reconvene every five years starting in 2023 to publicly report on how they are doing in cutting
emissions compared to their plans. They will be legally required to monitor and report on their
emissions levels and reductions, using a universal accounting system.5

Comment

It is very nice to know that efforts are now being undertaken to mitigate global warming
in a large and international scale, i.e. with the collaborative efforts of all agreeing countries, in
order to protect and preserve the environment we are living in. At the end of the day,
cooperation of every country is needed as a way to create a bigger and greater impact for the
preservation of the environment.

Accordingly, by requiring each country to reduce their greenhouse gases contribution through
their INDCs, and implementing sanctions when such limited contributions are not met, creates
an obligation for each country, in its internal acts, to enact laws and regulations (protecting the
environment) in order to meet such standards. As such, if all agreeing members comply with
what they have agreed upon, it shall immensely help in achieving the ultimate goal of the pact
by keeping global warming below 2C compared to pre-industrial levels. However, it has been
said that said INDCs are not enough to comply with the goal of below 2C; I am in the opinion
that even though that this is the case, what is more important is that measures are being
undertaken to help lessen the emissions, which is evidently better than having no progress at
all.

As a law student, I believe that this is the perfect time to be vigilant about the on going
deliberations about the Paris Agreement. It is the perfect time to be aware of the parties who
shall adopt the said agreement in the time allotted to do so, and, also to evaluate, in the future,
who shall follow and secure proper compliance with the agreement. Also, in the long run, to
assess if such measures shall be effective in achieving its goal and whether or not the
agreement shall pave the way to a more stable, safe, and clean environment in the future.

5 Davenport, C. (2015, December 12). Nations Approve Landmark Climate Accord in Paris. Retrieved January 25,
2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/world/europe/climate-change-accord-paris.html?_r=0