As the world marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, progress in combating global climate change is mixed.

While significant strides have been made in renewable energy and electric transport, global temperatures have reached record highs, and emissions continue to rise, putting the target of limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius—and ideally to 1.5°C—at serious risk according to experts.

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, was a landmark international commitment to curb the effects of climate change. Nearly every nation agreed to take action to limit global warming, reduce emissions quickly, and support countries already suffering the impacts of climate change. The goal was clear - prevent the worst effects of global warming by limiting the rise in temperatures to well below 2°C, and pursue efforts to keep the increase to 1.5°C.

Over the past decade, there have been notable advances in several key areas.

One of the most significant achievements, according to the New York Times, has been the rapid expansion of clean energy. Solar and wind power have become cheaper than fossil fuels in many parts of the world, and global investment in clean technologies has surged. The growth of renewable energy sources has played a crucial role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and is now seen as a viable alternative for countries looking to reduce their carbon footprints, according to the article.

Electric transport has also seen faster progress than many analysts anticipated. In 2023, one in five new cars sold worldwide was electric. Electric school buses are now a common sight in the United States, while commuters in Kenya use electric motorcycle taxis, and Chinese manufacturers are building electric vehicles abroad. This shift to electric transport has significantly reduced oil demand, with analysts estimating that it has cut daily oil consumption by two million barrels.

Lingering emissions challenge

Despite these positive developments, global emissions have continued to rise for most of the past decade, with only temporary reductions. This troubling trend means that the world is on track to miss the 1.5°C target, with current emissions trajectories pointing towards a rise of 2.7°C by the end of the century unless urgent and far-reaching policies are adopted according to experts.

This year, 2025, is expected to end as the second-or-third-warmest on record according to Copernicus. It could possibly tie with 2023 which is currently the second-warmest-year and behind 2024 which ranks at number one.

Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) said, "For November, global temperatures were 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels, and the three-year average for 2023–2025 is on track to exceed 1.5°C for the first time."

"These milestones are not abstract – they reflect the accelerating pace of climate change and the only way to mitigate future rising temperatures is to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Burgess added.

Oceanic crisis and coral bleaching

The oceans are also showing the stark impacts of global warming. Coral bleaching has become much more frequent, with two global bleaching events since 2015 that have severely impacted coral reefs.

These reefs support a quarter of all marine species and provide food and income to millions of people around the world. The ongoing bleaching is a significant threat to marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Few countries on track

According to the latest assessments from the United Nations, only a small number of countries are on track to meet their current climate pledges. Unfortunately, officials say that these countries are falling short of what scientists say is necessary to stabilise global temperatures. The organisation says that current efforts are not enough to prevent catastrophic consequences, and much more ambitious and aggressive actions are required in the coming years.

Inger Andersen, UN's Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director said, "“The Global Environment Outlook lays out a simple choice for humanity: continue down the road to a future devastated by climate change, dwindling nature, degraded land and polluted air, or change direction to secure a healthy planet, healthy people and healthy economies. This is no choice at all.”

“And let us not forgot the world has already made so much progress: from global deals covering climate change, nature, land and biodiversity, and pollution and waste, to real-world change in the booming renewables industry, global coverage of protected areas, and the phasing out of toxic chemicals,” she added.

“I call on all nations to build on this progress, invest in planetary health and drive their economies towards a thriving, sustainable future,” Andersen said.

The Paris Agreement was a significant step forward in combatting climate change, but experts say much more needs to be done to ensure a future where global temperatures are kept in check and the most vulnerable populations are protected.

Analysts and experts say that governments, businesses, and individuals must work together to accelerate the transition to clean energy, reduce emissions, and adapt to the inevitable changes that are already taking place. 

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