Us Obligations under Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty signed by 195 countries in December 2015 to address the issue of climate change. The agreement aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The United States was one of the signatories to the Paris Agreement, and as such, has certain obligations under the agreement.
The United States is expected to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. To achieve this target, the country has implemented various measures, including the Clean Power Plan, which aims to reduce emissions from power plants, and the fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, which are intended to reduce emissions from the transportation sector.
In addition to these measures, the United States is also expected to contribute to the Green Climate Fund, which was established to help developing countries to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The U.S. has committed to contributing $3 billion to the fund, of which $1 billion has already been disbursed.
The United States is also expected to regularly report its greenhouse gas emissions to the United Nations. This reporting will provide information on the country`s progress towards meeting its emissions reduction targets.
Another obligation under the Paris Agreement is to cooperate with other countries to promote the transition to a low-carbon economy. The U.S. has taken a leadership role in this area by partnering with other countries to promote clean energy and green technology.
Despite these obligations, the United States under the Trump administration announced in 2017 its intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, citing concerns about its impact on the U.S. economy. However, under President Joe Biden, the U.S. has rejoined the Paris Agreement, signaling a renewed commitment to addressing the issue of climate change.
In conclusion, the United States has obligations under the Paris Agreement to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to the Green Climate Fund, report its emissions, cooperate with other countries, and promote the transition to a low-carbon economy. While the country`s commitment to the Paris Agreement was temporarily in doubt, its decision to rejoin the agreement under President Biden is an encouraging sign that it will continue to work towards meeting its obligations.