The Paris Climate Agreement passed in 2016 is an international agreement between 196 countries aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. The goals of the agreement are to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding agreement, meaning that countries are obligated to abide by its terms. Each country is required to submit a plan, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), outlining how they will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These plans are reviewed every five years, with a goal of increasing ambition over time.

The Paris Agreement includes provisions for developed countries to provide financial and technological support to developing countries to assist them in their efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the agreement establishes a transparency framework to ensure that countries are reporting their emissions and progress accurately.

The Paris Agreement was a significant achievement in the global effort to address climate change, as it brought together nearly every country in the world to work towards a common goal. However, the agreement is not without its critics. Some argue that the goals are not ambitious enough, while others contend that the agreement gives too much power to individual countries to determine their own emissions reductions.

Despite these criticisms, the Paris Agreement remains an important step forward in the fight against climate change. Its success will depend on the commitment of individual countries to follow through on their NDCs and work collaboratively to reduce global emissions.