WRI Insights

Because the Paris Agreement is a universal, legally binding agreement to tackle climate change under international law, it joins other such agreements as the highest expression of political intent and will. That sends a strong signal to corporations, planners, investors and others that governments will enforce climate policies.

What led to the successful adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP21? WRI's Michael Oko sees persistence, determination and the increasing clarity of climate science as key factors.

One of the new Agreement's core ingredients is known as the ambition mechanism, or cycles of action. This mechanism lays out a process to continue strengthening countries' climate action every five years, starting before 2020.

The Agreement adopted at COP21 in Paris takes the world further than it has ever gone before on climate policy. WRI Climate Director Jennifer Morgan explains.

The Paris Agreement is an historic turning point in global action on climate change. This universal pact sets the world on a course to a zero-carbon, resilient, prosperous and fair future. While the Agreement is not enough by itself to solve the problem. it places us clearly on the path to a truly global solution.

While it may not be getting much attention at COP21, food loss and waste plays a huge role in the global climate change battle. Research shows that if food loss and waste were its own country, it would be world’s third-largest emitter!

"Under President Obama, the United States has sent a clear message at home and abroad that it's serious about climate action," write WRI Board member and former Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson. "We've vastly increased fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, set standards to limit carbon pollution under the Clean Power Plan, and brought China and other countries together around firm international commitments for action."

In the final days of the Paris climate conference, the idea of greenhouse gas emissions neutrality has emerged as a way to frame the long-term goal to limit the rise in world temperatures. Here are five key questions and answers about this critical concept.

Large, private sector energy customers wanting to buy more renewable energy are already driving change in electricity markets by scaling up clean power delivered through the grid. More renewables in countries’ power grids will accelerate progress toward emissions-reduction targets put forth in Paris.

If successful, the new international climate agreement forged in Paris will send strong signals to financial markets—and therefore to businesses and investors—about the direction of energy for the foreseeable future.