United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): Paris Agreement

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council may only adopt the act if the European Parliament gives its approval.

BACKGROUND: at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which took place in Paris from 30 November to 12 December 2015, the text of an agreement was adopted, concerning the strengthening of the global response to climate change.

The Agreement was signed on 22 April 2016. It should now be concluded on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: the draft Council decision aims to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Paris Agreement adopted on 12 December 2015 under the UNFCCC and the Declaration of Competence attached to the Decision.

The Paris Agreement, inter alia, sets out a long-term goal in line with the objective to keep the global temperature increase well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. It replaces the approach taken under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

The Paris Agreement will enter into force on the 30th day after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the UNFCCC accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 % of total greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Parties to the UNFCCC include the Union and its Member States.

For more details on the Paris Agreement, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal of 10.6.2016.