UN climate conference pushes for on “rulebook” for 2015 Paris Accord
Today, the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change will meet in Bangkok for a week of talks focused on drafting the “rulebook” of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord.
While the Paris agreement committed nearly 200 nations to the prevention of temperatures rising two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, it lacked the concrete guidelines to actually implement this goal. Specifically, exact numbers regarding emissions reductions and funding have yet to be nailed down. While creating these clear guidelines are important, it is difficult due to every country having different financial needs.
As the Paris Accord is the only global agreement pledging the reduction of carbon emissions, the stakes are high. Indeed, Bangkok itself is directly under threat of submersion if sea levels continue to rise. As of today, no major developed nation is on track to meet the two Celsius cap. Internal right-wing pressures and economic concerns are largely responsible for this lack in follow-through—Canada and Germany have both backed away from their obligations.
This week’s Bangkok talks, along with two other conferences this month, will likely result in a preliminary agreement to be reviewed by officials come December’s 24th Climate Change conference in Poland.
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