International Politics and Climate Change: A Detailed Analysis

This report delves into the intricate intersection of climate change and international politics. It explores the key international agreements, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, which aim to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and limit global temperature rise. The report highlights the challenges faced in achieving these goals, including the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement and the varying levels of commitment from different countries. It also examines the leadership role assumed by China in the wake of the US withdrawal. The report emphasizes the urgent need for global cooperation, urging all nations to prioritize climate action and overcome political differences to address the pressing issue of climate change effectively.

Running head: INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
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1INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is one of the most critical problem that the world is facing today.
Therefore, the countries of the world are looking at all kinds of options to reduce the effects of
environmental pollution. Multiple international treaties, conventions and agreements have been
signed to take appropriate actions against climate change issues. Some of these are, “United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), New York, 1992, Kyoto
Protocol, 1997, the Paris Agreement, 2015, Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
Layer, Vienna, 1985, Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Montreal
1987”.
The Paris Agreement 2015 was a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), and it deals with the issue of increase of greenhouse emission. This
agreement is also known as the “Paris Climate Accord or the Paris Climate Agreement”. The
objective of the accord is to contain the global temperature rise within 2 degrees and even
endeavor in keeping it under 1.5 degrees Celsius (Agreement 2015).
The accord gives the independence to each country to decide its own course in meeting
the requirements of reducing the greenhouse emissions at all levels. However, it is seen that
many of the countries who have signed the agreement are not taking enough actions to meet the
requirements by 2020.
In 2017 the President of the United States Donald Trump has declared a withdrawal of
the country from the Paris agreement. The reason shown was that other countries are not taking
enough actions which is making it disadvantageous for the USA to remain in the accord. China
had initially shown apprehensions but when the US retreated China had used the opportunity to
lead the countries following this agreement (Pickering 2017). It is high time that keeping politics
aside all the countries come together in reducing the effects of climate change.

2INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Reference:
Agreement, P., 2015. United nations framework convention on climate change. Paris, France.
Pickering, J., McGee, J.S., Stephens, T. and Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, S.I., 2017. The impact of the
US retreat from the Paris Agreement: Kyoto revisited?. Climate Policy, pp.1-10.