Paris 2015—Good COP, Bad COP.

There was a lot of celebration at the closing of the COP21 meeting in Paris on 12 December 2015. An agreement was reached among almost 200 countries on moving forward in dealing with climate change. Most observers are happy that there is a deal, imperfect though it seems. The attendees agreed to:

• Find new renewable energy and shift from fossil fuels
• Report greenhouse gases every 5 years
• Supply $100B/yearly to developing countries by 2020

And while the agreement is not legally binding, major industrial powers like the US, India and China have committed with the other participants to the 1.5°C target by 2020. Meanwhile, small island states like Kiribati and the Maldives have real concerns that rising water levels associated with global warming will make their countries uninhabitable. Also, while fossil fuel produces have been put under the spotlight, the Paris agreement has not focused on the responsibility bore by major fossil fuel users like aviation, shipping and agriculture.

So for this week’s question, we would like to know what you think about the COP21 deal in Paris, and what do you think it will take to bring about the 1.5°C target agreed on at the meeting? Please log in and give us your thoughts.

Photo: U.S. Dept. of State via flickr