SCIENTIA.

Were there any measures to prevent further climate change? Yes, an example is the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted in 2015. It aims to keep the increase in temperature rise to well below 2, preferably at around 1.5 degrees celsius, compared to the pre-industrial levels. It was the first agreement which brought nations together with the common goal of reducing global warming.

The Paris agreement requires changes in economic and social sectors of the country. It has a 5-year cycle and at the end of the cycle, countries have to submit their plans for climate action known as the nationally determined contributions (NDCs). They also form long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies. Countries in part of the Paris Agreement help each other for financial, technical and capacity building support. 

“Achieving net zero will require action from everyone” (Vallance, 2021)

Truthfully, we have not achieved much to the point where we can reach the Paris Agreement goals or stop climate change. However, we have made small and large steps, which are crucial to start changing the world. There have been a few changes made such as charging plastic bags and people are slowly becoming more aware of the problem. Furthermore, more and more countries and companies established laws and goals to carbon neutrality targets, zero-carbon solutions are becoming more competitive across economic sectors, etc. Following this trend, we will be able to achieve zero-carbon solutions becoming competitive in sectors representing over 70% of the global emissions. Many a little makes a mickle.

“You must take action. You must do the impossible. Because giving up is never an option.” - Greta Thunberg

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By Ena Hashimoto and Jiwon Yoo (Year 13 Students at Bangkok Patana School)