Australia, Brazil, Russia, the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Parameters:
Nations likely to meet their climate pledges or the Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDC) were ranked high in compliance.
The countries with bold commitments were ranked high in ambition.
Statistical Analysis:
Nations with more stable governments are more likely to have bold and highly
credible pledges.
Besides, China and other non-democracies are also likely to honour their
commitments.
Their administrative and political systems enable them to implement complex
national policies.
What is the Paris Agreement?
About:
The Paris Agreement (also known as the Conference of Parties 21 or COP 21) was
adopted in 2015.
It replaced the Kyoto Protocol which was an earlier agreement to deal with climate
change.
It is a global treaty wherein some 200 countries agreed to cooperate to reduce Green
House Gas (GHG) Emissions and rein in climate change.
It seeks to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C,
compared to pre-industry levels.
Working:
The Paris Agreement works on a 5- year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action
carried out by countries. In 2020, countries had submitted their plans for climate action
known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
Long-Term Strategies:
Long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-
LEDS) provide the long-term horizon for the NDCs. Unlike NDCs, they are not
mandatory.
Tracking Progress:
With the Paris Agreement, countries established an enhanced transparency framework
(ETF). Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions taken and
progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or
received.
It also provides for international procedures for the review of the submitted reports.
The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global stocktake
which will assess the collective progress towards the long-term climate goals.
Way Forward
To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries should aim to reach global peaking of
greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-
century.
There is a need for credible short-term commitments, with a clear pathway to medium-
term decarbonization, that takes into account the multiple challenges states face, such as air
pollution, and development might well be the more defensible choice for some.