The Paris Agreement, which was adopted in December 2015 during the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve this, the agreement calls for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty that requires countries to take action to address climate change. In order for the agreement to enter into force, at least 55 countries accounting for at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions needed to ratify it. This threshold was achieved on October 5, 2016, and the Paris Agreement went into effect on November 4, 2016.

As of today, 189 out of the 197 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have ratified the Paris Agreement. The United States, which is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, ratified the agreement on September 3, 2016, under President Obama. However, in June 2017, President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the agreement, which would become effective on November 4, 2020.

Despite the withdrawal of the United States, the Paris Agreement remains a crucial international effort to combat climate change. The remaining parties to the agreement have committed to continuing their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit the global temperature increase. In fact, many countries have even increased their emission reduction targets since the agreement was adopted.

The ratification of the Paris Agreement by so many countries is a clear indication of the urgent need to address climate change. The agreement provides a framework for countries to work together to achieve a sustainable future, and it is essential that all parties continue to honor their commitments and take concrete actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With collective efforts, we can achieve a safer and healthier planet for ourselves and for future generations.