By Alex Blundell
The Paris Agreement (PA) was proposed during the twenty-first session of the ‘Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’. It is a comprehensive and legally-binding agreement. Parties therefore express their consent to being bound to reducing emissions, limiting global warming and providing support in areas such as early warning systems. The agreement will also require parties (e.g. Governments, States, Countries) to report on their progress and the manner in which they are implementing their environmental targets. In order to come into force, the agreement had to be ratified by a minimum of 55 parties. This threshold was achieved on October 5th 2016 and will come into force by November 4th 2016.
The agreement is a landmark step towards global unity in the fight against Climate Change, but due to the slow deliberation of the Kyoto Protocol, the PA was not thought to become a reality for some time. However, the contribution of the European Union in supporting the agreement majorly triggered it into force. Meaning that other world leaders are now under pressure to ratify the agreement as well.
Due to the UK leaving the EU, green parties have been concerned with the UK’s position on the changes taking place. The upset stems from current Prime Minister Theresa May’s pursuits into fracking and also, the speculation as to whether the UK will continue to tackle climate change after leaving the EU. However, despite the UK having not yet signed up to the agreement, the Prime Minister has promised to do so by the end of this year.
Since April 22nd 2016, the deal has been open to signatures of ratification for consenting parties, which raises the question… Why hasn’t the UK already signed this agreement? The UK’s environmental policy supposedly works towards the same targets that the PA has put forward. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have been proactive in this deal, to solidify the UK’s place as leaders in the field. Furthermore, in June 2016 the UK set their ‘fifth carbon budget’. Which is legally-binding and requires a 40% cut in carbon emissions by 2030 on 1990 levels. This carbon goal is notably more ambitious than the former requirements set by the EU. This may suggest the UK was reluctant to be held accountable by an international body after just becoming independent from the EU. As Labour, the Lib Dems, SNP and the Greens have all expressed concern that there is indeed, no good reason for the UK to delay the ratification of this deal.
The UK have previously been world leaders in desire of progress. This deal will not only push the UK towards eco-friendly sustainability but also re-affirm the countries alliances with Europe and other international parties. Particularly in light of the ‘Remain’ voters recent panic regarding the possible isolation of the country, government officials may want to consider expressing further willingness to participate in the Paris Agreement. Opposed to simply responding due to the pressure put on them by the EU’s ratification of the deal.