21st UN Conference On Climate Change: Paris, France - November 30 – December 11

Global leaders will be in attendance at the Paris conference including China’s President Xi Jinping.

They will come together to achieve a binding and universal agreement on climate change. 
Each country proposed and submitted their agenda in March of 2015.

The goal of the conference is to cap emissions to meet an overall goal of 2C(3.6 degree Fahrenheit) over pre industrial revolution levels. This is the target scientist’s and climate experts say without would result in floods, droughts, and storms in coming years.

The last attempt for a global agreement was in Copenhagen in 2009 and it collapsed with no resolution among countries.

Another goal of the conference is to create greater incentive for businesses, investors, and innovators to reduce emissions. Countries are looking for assured financing to be able to implement these initiatives. The Paris Summit will hopefully shape the policy for more significant outcomes.

Important countries to look for are China and India. They make up a significant amount of the harm being done to our climate due to their reliance on coal and rapid expansion.

Although, this meeting should be a significant step in the right direction since the Kyoto Protocol was implemented, scientists warn we are on track to see a 3C increase this century in the earths global average surface temperature and that 2C is not an appropriate goal.

It should be less about the temperature cap and more about the actual agreement upon countries to choose sustainable solutions going forward. These will in turn lead to an overall significant impact throughout the world in  years to come. Lets hope the meeting is more about resolution and less political among countries.

Be Well, 

Kim