FIVE MAJOR SHIFTS SINCE THE PARIS AGREEMENT THAT GIVE HOPE IN A JUST, PARIS COMPATIBLE TRANSITION......Nearly ten years have gone by since the groundbreaking Paris Agreement was signed in 2015. At the international level, the Agreement was hailed as a turning point of collective global action to combat climate change after many rounds of negotiations under the UNFCCC umbrella. For the first time, all countries agreed to keep the global average temperature increase to “well below 2°C aiming for 1.5°C” with each contributing their part at a self-determined speed and scale. The so-called ambition mechanism with the Nationally Determined Contributions at the centre was born, embedded in a framework of processes and milestones to enable assessment of progress towards the collective goal. Since then, the implementation of the ambition mechanism has proven slower than what is needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. At the same time, the scientific community’s warnings have grown in urgency and alarm. Indeed, in many parts of the world the impacts of climate change can already be felt, in numerous natural disasters, heat waves, droughts, floods, which threaten the livelihoods of millions. Against a backdrop of multiple global crises, rising geopolitical tensions and increasing disinformation campaigns, it is important to not only reflect on the gaps of what hasn’t happened but also what has been achieved over the last decade. A closer look at progress will provide important insights into the dynamics of change that we can build on as well as nurture a sense of purpose for the climate community to prepare itself for the next crucial – and undoubtedly difficult – decade. This paper gives an overview of what has been achieved in the last years of international climate policy at the global level along different dimensions of the transition towards a zero emissions world. The focus is deliberately on the positive shifts that can be observed, recognising that these are insufficient to move us to where we need to be but remind us that not all is lost yet. The paper is structured along five thematic areas, covering awareness and civil action, policy and governance, investors and business, as well as the energy and industry sectors. In all of these areas positive shifts are under way. In some cases the shifts are only small and need significant acceleration and scaling. Some have positively surprised us and are already past positive tipping points and “simply” need continuation. All show that change is possible and is happening, sometimes faster than was previously expected or thought even possible.......Under each theme we highlight the main positive trends that have been observed in the last decade. It is not meant as a comprehensive compendium but rather a collection of evidence underpinned by data where possible, sometimes anecdotal. The intention is to provide a perspective of change at the global level and not to zoom into specific geographies. However, there are of course significant regional and local differences in many of the observed trends which cannot be considered in depth within the scope of this exercise. SHIFT 1 Awareness & civil action Climate change discourse has become mainstream. Civil and legal action pushes governments and companies. SHIFT 2 Vision, goals & policies Widely recognised that emissions have to be reduced to zero by every country across the economy. SHIFT 3 Investors & business Every investor and every business feels pressure to act on climate. SHIFT 4 Energy supply Renewables reached cost parity with fossils and power systems are shifting to decentralised, flexible models. SHIFT 5 Electrification & industry Electrification in transport and buildings has progressed significantly and all industry is now working on zero carbon strategies.....read on https://newclimate.org/sites/
FIVE MAJOR SHIFTS SINCE THE PARIS AGREEMENT THAT GIVE HOPE IN A JUST, PARIS COMPATIBLE TRANSITION.
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