The Fiji Paris Agreement: An Overview of the Historic Climate Change Accord

In December 2015, world leaders convened in Paris for the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The goal of this conference was to negotiate a global agreement on climate change, with the aim of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

After two weeks of intense negotiations, the Paris Agreement was adopted by 195 countries on December 12th, 2015. The agreement was a historic moment in the fight against climate change, and marked the first time that all nations committed to take action on climate change.

One of the key players in the negotiations was the small island nation of Fiji. Fiji, along with other small island developing states, was among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, stronger storms, and ocean acidification. Fiji’s Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, served as the President of COP23 in 2017, and was a vocal advocate for stronger climate action.

The Fiji Paris Agreement includes several key provisions aimed at achieving its goals. Among these provisions are:

– Long-term goals: The agreement sets a long-term goal of achieving a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and removals in the second half of this century.

– Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each country is required to provide an NDC outlining its targets for reducing emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The NDCs are not legally binding, but the agreement includes a mechanism for regular review and assessment of progress towards these targets.

– Financing: Developed countries are required to provide financial resources to support developing countries in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The agreement includes a goal of mobilizing $100 billion per year by 2020 to support this effort.

– Transparency and accountability: The agreement requires countries to report on their emissions and progress towards their NDCs, and includes a mechanism for reviewing and assessing this information.

The Fiji Paris Agreement represents a historic milestone in the global effort to combat climate change. However, much work remains to be done to ensure that the goals of the agreement are achieved. In particular, there is a need for increased ambition in the NDCs submitted by countries, and for greater financial support for developing countries to implement climate action.

As the impacts of climate change continue to worsen, the need for action becomes ever more urgent. The Fiji Paris Agreement represents a hopeful sign that the international community is ready to take on this challenge, and provides a framework for global cooperation in the fight against climate change.