On November 17, 2017, the world came together to sign the COP23 agreement. This historic agreement was made at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, and it represents a significant step forward in the global effort to combat climate change.
The COP23 agreement is the latest in a series of international agreements that have been made since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed in 1992. The purpose of these agreements is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the rise of global temperatures in order to mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change.
The COP23 agreement is particularly significant because it represents a continuation of the progress that was made with the Paris Agreement in 2015. That agreement set the goal of limiting the increase in global temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, with a preference for limiting the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The COP23 agreement builds on the Paris Agreement by establishing a roadmap for the implementation of its goals. It establishes the structure for a “Facilitative Dialogue” to take place in 2018, which will help countries to assess their progress towards achieving their climate goals and identify areas where more work needs to be done.
The agreement also reaffirms the importance of the contributions that non-state actors such as cities, businesses, and civil society groups can make in the fight against climate change. It calls for increased collaboration between national governments and these non-state actors in order to accelerate progress towards the Paris Agreement`s goals.
Perhaps most importantly, the COP23 agreement sends a clear message to the world that the fight against climate change is far from over. It recognizes that there is still much work to be done, but it also acknowledges the progress that has been made and the potential for even greater progress in the future.
As we move forward, it is important to remember that the success of the COP23 agreement, and the larger fight against climate change, will depend on the actions of individuals and governments around the world. We must continue to work together and take bold action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and protect our planet for future generations.