Climate change is no longer a distant risk, but a reality affecting economies, ecosystems, and the lives of millions of people. In Brazil, for example, more than half of the population says they are concerned about its effects. And it was to address this global challenge that the Paris Agreement was created, a historic milestone in international cooperation for the climate.

More than just a global climate agreement, the commitment of the Paris Agreement represents an effort among countries, businesses, and society to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future. Find out what this means in practice.

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What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change approved in 2015, during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21), in Paris. On that occasion, nearly 200 countries, including Brazil, agreed for the first time to join efforts to tackle global warming in a coordinated and ambitious manner.

To achieve this, the agreement needed to be different from previous initiatives, and an inclusive model was therefore adopted: each nation presents its own emissions reduction targets, known as NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions), considering its respective economic, social, and environmental conditions.

The project went beyond a diplomatic document and solidified the idea that combating climate change requires international cooperation, technological innovation, and shared responsibility.

While posing challenges, it also opens opportunities to accelerate the low-carbon economy, boost renewable energies, and strengthen community resilience in the face of climate impacts.

What are the main objectives of the Paris Agreement?

The agreement was built around three major objectives that complement each other within the context of climate change and international cooperation:

- Limit the increase in global average temperature

- Implement carbon emission reductions through a just energy transition

- Strengthen countries' adaptive capacity in the face of climate change

Therefore, understanding what the Paris Agreement is merely reflects the urgency of curbing global warming. Learn how this will be achieved.

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Limit global warming to 1.5 °C

The countries that signed the Paris Agreement have as their main objective to keep global warming well below 2 °C compared to pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C.

This figure represents the difference between scenarios of controlled impact and those with severe consequences, such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and irreversible loss of biodiversity.

In fact, this proposed limit was exceeded for the first time in 2024, according to the World Meteorological Organization. This is a serious moment to reflect on current efforts and what needs to be intensified.

Carbon Emission Reduction and Energy Transition

Another central pillar of the Agreement is the decarbonization of the global economy. This means drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources, promoting energy efficiency, and adopting clean technologies in sectors such as transport, industry, and agriculture.

In parallel, these measures also represent other benefits, such as opportunities to stimulate innovation, create green jobs, and foster a more competitive and sustainable economy.

Strengthening Climate Resilience and Country Adaptation

One of the goals of the Paris Agreement is to support the most vulnerable countries, especially in adapting to the future.  

Some regions of the world are more affected by rising sea levels, such as coastal areas of Brazil and island nations in the South Pacific, including Maldives and Tuvalu, with these islands at risk of disappearing, according to WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution).

This ranges from investments in resilient infrastructure, designed to recover quickly after extreme weather events, to policies aimed at protecting communities, ecosystems, and production chains from the effects of droughts, floods, or heatwaves.

What commitments have signatory countries made?

All signatory countries, regardless of their economic status or level of development, have made commitments to combat climate change.

Each nation must submit its NDCs, which serve as climate action plans and include emission reduction targets, adaptation strategies, and measures to support the energy transition.

When we combine each objective and add them to common needs, we see that the Paris Agreement is a network of international cooperation. After all, the logic is as simple as it is daunting: the climate challenge can only be tackled with global solidarity and collective commitment.

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How do monitoring and transparency work in the Paris Agreement?

To ensure that commitments are not just theoretical, a monitoring and transparency mechanism is in place: every five years, countries must review and update their NDCs to gradually increase the ambition of their targets.  

This creates a cycle of continuous improvement that encourages progressive advancement.

Furthermore, there is the Enhanced Transparency Framework, which obliges countries to regularly report their greenhouse gas emissions, the measures adopted, and the results achieved. These reports undergo technical analyses and international comparisons to assess collective progress and identify areas for improvement.

What are the achievements and challenges of the Paris Agreement since its implementation?

Since coming into force in 2016, the Paris Agreement has brought about significant progress. Among these, the increased global awareness of the climate urgency and the mobilization of governments, businesses, and civil society around decarbonization targets stand out.  

Several countries, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, and European Union members, have already announced carbon neutrality commitments by mid-century, and strategic sectors — such as energy, transport, and industry — have been accelerating the transition to more sustainable models.

However, the challenges remain significant. Global emissions continue at high levels, and many countries struggle to align economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Science also emphasizes that time is short: each fraction of a degree above the 1.5 °C target represents increasingly greater risks for ecosystems, economies, and vulnerable communities.

In fact, many experts believe that we no longer live within a concept of global warming, but rather of “climate emergency” or “global boiling”. This is not a point of no return, but rather a call to intensify our efforts — individual and collective. And businesses and individuals have a decisive role in all of this.

Importance of Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement

The Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement establishes the global carbon market, supervised by the UN, to accelerate the fight against climate change. This mechanism creates a standardized system that allows countries and companies to trade credits generated by greenhouse gas reduction or removal projects.  

Its main importance is to offer a flexible and economically efficient tool for nations to meet their climate targets — the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) —, transforming decarbonization into a globally tradable asset and encouraging investment in clean technologies.

Learn about Suzano's role in the Carbon Market  

Conclusion

The Paris Agreement is a collective pact in defense of life on the planet. Its objectives to limit global warming, reduce emissions, and strengthen climate resilience depend on cooperation among governments, businesses, and civil society.

And despite the obstacles, the agreement remains the foundation of the fight against climate change, establishing a common horizon of hope and action. Every commitment made, every technological innovation, and every conscious choice by individuals and organizations brings us closer to a more just and sustainable future.

The challenge is great, but so is the opportunity to build a positive legacy for future generations.

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