The 2015 Climate Talks: What’s it about?
The 2015 Climate Talks: What’s it about?
IN THE FACE of serious impacts of climate change, leaders of over 130 nations have come together in Paris, France for the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) Climate Talks. But according to civil society organizations, much of what is happening inside the COP, along with the repression of protests in the streets of Paris, is rather alarming.
The COP is the annual convention of world leaders that aims to come up with solutions to the world’s worsening climate crisis by creating a legally binding universal agreement from all of the world’s nations. It is also the official meeting of all states party to the Kyoto Protocol. This year’s COP is held at Le Bourget, Paris, France from November 30 to December 11.
The Kyoto Protocol is a plan by the United Nations to fight climate change by having participating countries reduce the greenhouse gases (GHGs) by signing a law that legally binds them to this goal. It was created in 1997 and officially put into full-force in 2005. However, three of the world’s biggest polluters namely China, India, and the US, have refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, or any treaty that makes them legally commit to reducing carbon emissions.
The Doha Amendment, which seeks to extend it to 2020, has not yet been ratified by enough nations and, as such, has yet to be put into effect.
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