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

PURPOSE: to approve the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2016/1841 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a decision approving, on behalf of the Union, the Paris Agreement adopted on 12 December 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as the Declaration of Competence on behalf of the Union.

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. In order to achieve this goal, the Parties will prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions.

Under the Paris Agreement, as of 2023, the Parties are to undertake a global stocktake every five years, based on the latest science and implementation to date, which will track progress and consider emission reductions, adaptation and support provided, and each Party's successive contribution is to represent a progression beyond its then current contribution and reflect its highest ambition.

Parties to the UNFCCC include the Union and its Member States. In its conclusions of 18 March 2016, the European Council underlined the need for the Union and its Member States to conclude the Paris Agreement as soon as possible and on time in order to be parties as of its entry into force.

It is a key Union priority to establish a resilient Energy Union to provide secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy to its citizens. Achieving this requires continuation of ambitious climate action and progress on other aspects of the Energy Union.

The Paris Agreement replaces the approach taken under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

It 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.

The joint action by the Union and its Member States will be agreed in due course and will cover the respective emission level allocated to the Union and its Member States.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 6.10.2016.