One global deal from Paris 2015: convergence and contestations on the future climate mitigation agenda

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Periodical article

Title:	One global deal from Paris 2015: convergence and contestations on the future climate mitigation agenda
Authors:	Nhamo, Godwell Nhamo, Senia
Year:	2016
Periodical:	South African Journal of International Affairs (ISSN 1938-0275)
Volume:	23
Issue:	3
Pages:	323-346
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Africa developing countries
Subjects:	climate change international agreements North-South relations
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/10220461.2016.1252281
Abstract:	This article analyses the 2015 Paris Agreement of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with a focus on mitigation. The history of climate negotiations and the mitigation agenda shows the divide between developed and developing countries, with the latter insisting that the former, having caused the problem, need to do more to reduce carbon emissions to address climate change. However, as some emerging economies had continued to emit more carbon, there were calls to treat these as developed countries, requiring increased mitigation measures. The article examines the record of these emerging economies, and establishes that there was some convergence in Paris, a positive element that resulted in a single global climate treaty. However, the Paris negotiations also witnessed contestations, with the final agreement insufficient to keep global warming within advised limits, and in any case only partly legally binding, leaving its implementation success to good will. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]