Understanding the Paris Agreement and the 1.5C Global Warming Target

Adopted in Paris in 2015, the Paris Agreement is an international pact designed to address rising global temperatures by limiting global warming to 1.5C and keeping temperature rises well below 2.0C compared to pre-industrial levels of the late 19th Century. The landmark accord entered into force on November 4, 2016, with nearly 200 countries signing on to curtail greenhouse gas emissions.

The framework of the agreement requires each participating nation to establish its own emission-reduction targets, which are subject to review every five years to encourage increased ambition. Additionally, the accord includes commitments for wealthier nations to provide financial assistance, termed climate finance, to help developing countries adapt to climate change and transition toward renewable energy sources.

The agreement also sets a goal to achieve a balance between emitted and removed greenhouse gases, known as net zero, during the second half of the century. Nepal recently became the first country approved to receive funding from a designated fund for damages linked to climate change, following flash floods that occurred in August 2026.

Despite advancements in areas such as renewable energy development, global temperatures continue to rise rapidly. According to a recent United Nations report, the 1.5C target is projected to be breached within the next few years, necessitating urgent and stringent measures to eventually return global temperatures to the target threshold.

Membership in the accord has experienced political shifts. The United States, recognized as the second-largest greenhouse gas emitter globally, withdrew from the agreement in January 2026 under President Donald Trump. This followed a previous withdrawal during Trump's first term and a subsequent return to the pact in 2021 under President Joe Biden. Alongside the United States, the remaining UN member states currently outside the agreement are Iran, Libya, and Yemen.