---
title: "Are international climate efforts enough?"
subject: "Technology, Environment and Society"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:international-efforts-enough"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/international-efforts-enough
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Are international climate efforts enough?

Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 6: Climate Change

- Asked in: 2072 Chaitra, 8 marks
- Video: [The Paris accord won’t halt climate change, but it’s a step](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDmAvmIuCpc) — PBS NewsHour
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/international-efforts-enough
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-6

## Question

What are the current international efforts being made to mitigate the problems caused by climate change? Are they enough?

## Short answer

Current international efforts include the IPCC’s scientific assessments, annual UNFCCC COPs, and the Paris Agreement’s country pledges (NDCs). They are not enough: global emissions keep rising and even if all pledges are met, the world is headed for 2.5–3°C warming, far above the 1.5°C goal.

## Answer

Climate change is a global problem because greenhouse gases mix in the whole atmosphere, so no single country can solve it. Since the late 1980s the world has made a series of international efforts under the United Nations.

#### Current international efforts

| Year | Effort | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | IPCC formed (by WMO and UNEP) | Scientific assessment of climate change |
| 1992 | UNFCCC adopted at Rio Earth Summit | Goal: stabilise GHG concentrations; COPs held every year |
| 1997 | Kyoto Protocol (in force 2005) | Binding cuts for developed (Annex I) countries; CDM, emission trading |
| 2009 | Copenhagen Accord (COP15) | Pledge of US\$100 billion per year of climate finance by 2020 |
| 2015 | Paris Agreement (COP21, in force 2016) | Keep warming well below 2 °C, try for 1.5 °C; every country submits NDCs |
| 2021 | Glasgow Climate Pact (COP26) | "Phase down" of unabated coal; stronger NDCs |
| 2022–23 | COP27, COP28 | Loss and Damage Fund created and made operational; first Global Stocktake |
| 2024 | COP29, Baku | New climate finance goal of US\$300 billion per year by 2035 |

**Main features**
- **IPCC** gives the scientific basis; its Sixth Assessment Report (2021–23) states that human influence has clearly warmed the climate.
- **UNFCCC** holds a Conference of the Parties (COP) every year and follows the principle of **common but differentiated responsibilities**.
- **Kyoto Protocol** set binding targets only for developed countries and created market mechanisms (CDM, emission trading).
- **Paris Agreement** is the present framework: every country submits **Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)**, updated every 5 years, with a transparency framework and a **Global Stocktake** every 5 years. Many countries have net-zero targets (EU 2050, China 2060, India 2070, Nepal 2045).
- **Climate finance:** Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, Adaptation Fund, Loss and Damage Fund.
- **Other measures:** Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment (halocarbons), REDD+ for forests, Global Methane Pledge (2021), carbon markets.

#### Are they enough?

**No – the efforts are important but not enough.**

1. **Emissions are still rising.** Global CO₂ concentration keeps rising every year (over 420 ppm), and recent years have been the hottest on record.
2. **Ambition gap:** UNEP Emissions Gap Reports show that even if all present NDCs are achieved, the world is heading for roughly 2.5–3 °C of warming, far above the Paris goal of 1.5 °C.
3. **Voluntary pledges:** NDCs under the Paris Agreement are not legally binding in their targets, and there is no penalty for missing them.
4. **Finance gap:** the US\$100 billion per year promise was met late (2022), and developing countries say the needs are in trillions. Adaptation finance is much smaller than mitigation finance.
5. **Weak participation at times:** the USA never ratified Kyoto, and has left the Paris Agreement more than once; Canada left Kyoto.
6. **Fossil fuel dependence:** large subsidies to coal, oil and gas continue; phase-out language is weak ("phase down", "transition away").
7. **Unfair burden:** poor and mountain countries like Nepal, which emitted little, suffer the most, while loss and damage funding is very small.

**What more is needed:** stronger and binding emission cuts by major emitters, an end to fossil fuel subsidies, large and predictable finance and technology transfer to LDCs, more funding for adaptation and loss and damage, and action by individuals and businesses alongside governments.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Why is climate change a global problem that requires international effort?
   A. Because greenhouse gases mix in the whole atmosphere, so no single country can solve it
   B. Because only one country emits GHGs
   C. Because it affects only oceans
   D. Because the UN has banned national action
   Answer: A. GHGs mix globally, so emissions anywhere affect everyone and collective action is needed. (Key point: Global nature of the problem)

2. How did Kyoto differ from the Paris Agreement?
   A. Kyoto covered all countries with NDCs
   B. Kyoto set binding targets only for developed countries; Paris has NDCs from every country
   C. Paris had no finance
   D. Kyoto was adopted in 2015
   Answer: B. Kyoto's binding targets applied to developed (Annex I) countries; Paris requires all countries to submit NDCs. (Key point: Kyoto vs Paris)

3. What does the UNEP Emissions Gap Report indicate?
   A. Even if all NDCs are achieved, warming would still be about 2.5-3 °C, far above 1.5 °C
   B. NDCs will limit warming to 1.5 °C
   C. Emissions are falling quickly
   D. The Paris goals are already met
   Answer: A. This shows the ambition gap between current pledges and the Paris goal. (Key point: Ambition gap)

4. Why are Paris NDCs considered a weakness?
   A. Targets are not legally binding and there is no penalty for missing them
   B. They are too strict
   C. They apply only to Nepal
   D. They ban coal immediately
   Answer: A. Voluntary pledges without penalties allow countries to under-deliver. (Key point: Weakness of voluntary pledges)

## Related in Technology, Environment and Society

- [Short note: International efforts to mitigate climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ainternational-efforts-note) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Human-induced climate change and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ahuman-induced-cc-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Climate change impacts in Nepal and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-impacts-nepal-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Climate change gases, mitigation and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-gases-international-efforts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Climate, weather and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-weather-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Global warming and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aglobal-warming-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6