The 21st Conference of the Parties (COP-21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place between November 30 and December 11, 2015, in Paris, and the agreement was signed in New York on April 22, 2016.
COP-21 was attended by 195 countries and its main objective was to commit nations to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
The right to an ecologically balanced environment is one of the most important concerns today. Over the past 20 years, governments, businesses, and civil society have embraced the importance of sustainable development as a guiding principle.
The main commitments made by signatory countries in the Paris Agreement are to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and strive to limit temperature rise to 1,5°C above pre-industrial levels. Currently, global warming is 3°C above pre-industrial levels, and we are already paying a heavy price, suffering environmental disasters worldwide.
The signatory countries must now prepare and submit their respective nationally determined contributions (INDCs), that is, the set of goals and/or domestic policies and actions to be adopted individually by all countries as part of the global efforts to combat climate change.
The Brazilian government has committed to an estimated 37% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and the possibility of a 2030% reduction by 43, compared to 2005 levels.
The advantage for Brazil of having ratified the Paris Agreement quickly is that it can now implement actions to achieve its goals.
Environment Minister Sarney Filho assured continued dialogue with the business community to increase private sector participation in investments, aiming to meet the established targets. "Changes in consumption and production patterns will only occur with the support of the business community, and it is within this perspective that the ministry positions itself as a partner in development processes. We understand that development is a partner of the environment, not an antagonist," he concluded.
