The Paris Agreement and Understanding PPM: A Brief Guide for Environmental Enthusiasts

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Paris Agreement, a landmark treaty designed to combat climate change and limit global warming. Among other things, the treaty seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

One important metric for measuring progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is parts per million (PPM). PPM is a unit used to express the concentration of a substance in a given volume of air or water. When it comes to climate change, the substance in question is carbon dioxide (CO2), the most common greenhouse gas.

At pre-industrial levels, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was around 280 PPM. However, due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, the concentration has risen to over 400 PPM today. This increase is a major contributor to global warming and climate change.

The Paris Agreement sets a goal of keeping the global temperature increase to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this goal, the treaty aims to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by the second half of this century. In other words, we need to stop adding more CO2 to the atmosphere than we can remove.

According to the latest scientific research, we need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050 to have a reasonable chance of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is a daunting task, but it is essential if we want to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

To monitor progress towards these goals, scientists use various metrics, including PPM. The Paris Agreement calls for regular reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and progress towards reducing them. Countries are encouraged to set their own targets for reducing emissions, and to increase their ambition over time.

In conclusion, the Paris Agreement is a critical international treaty that seeks to combat climate change and limit global warming. PPM is an important metric that helps us monitor progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we need to act quickly and decisively to reduce our emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy.