How the world changed in the decade since the Paris climate agreement | CBC Climate Change News – CBC

Report on Global Climate Action Since the 2015 Paris Agreement

A Decadal Review in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

This report assesses the progress made in global climate action since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. It evaluates changes in climate indicators, technology, policy, and finance, with a significant emphasis on their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Climate Status and Progress on SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Observed Temperature Increase

The primary objective of the Paris Agreement, directly supporting SDG 13, is to limit global warming. However, climate indicators show a persistent negative trend.

• In December 2015, the average global temperature was 0.97°C above pre-industrial levels.
• By December 2024, this figure had risen to 1.35°C, an increase of over 0.3°C within the decade.

Future Projections

While policy interventions have averted the most catastrophic scenarios, current commitments remain insufficient to meet the goals of SDG 13.

1. Pre-Paris Agreement Trajectory: The world was on track for 4°C of warming by 2100.
2. Current Trajectory: With the implementation of all current climate commitments, the world is projected to warm by 2.3°C by 2100, significantly exceeding the 1.5°C target.
3. Human Impact: A 2.3°C warming scenario is projected to double the number of potentially deadly hot days per year, posing a direct threat to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Technological Advancement and Energy Transition (SDG 7 & SDG 9)

Growth in Renewable Energy (SDG 7)

The transition to affordable and clean energy has accelerated, marking significant progress toward SDG 7.

• A landmark was achieved in the first half of 2025, when renewables (34.3%) surpassed coal (33.1%) as the largest source of global electricity for the first time.
• Clean energy generation has grown by an average of 13% annually since 2020.
• However, to meet Paris Agreement targets, this growth rate must double, indicating that the pace of transition is still insufficient.

Innovation in Sustainable Infrastructure (SDG 9)

The proliferation of sustainable technologies, particularly in transport, reflects progress on SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

• The adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) has increased dramatically since 2015.
• While EV sales were previously on track to meet climate targets, they fell below the required trajectory in the past year.

Policy and Governance Frameworks

Impact of the Paris Agreement on National Policies

The Paris Agreement has served as a catalyst for national climate policies, reinforcing the governance structures needed to achieve the SDGs.

• The agreement provided the political backing for national-level actions, such as Canada’s carbon pricing and net-zero goals, and strong carbon pricing policies in Europe.
• A key success is the requirement for all signatory nations, including middle-income and emerging economies, to undertake climate action, promoting universal responsibility.
• China has significantly scaled up the development and export of key technologies like solar panels, batteries, and EVs, contributing to the global energy transition.

Climate Finance and Global Partnerships (SDG 17)

Investment in Clean Energy

Financial flows are increasingly aligning with the objectives of SDG 7 and SDG 13.

• In 2024, investment in green energy surpassed $2 trillion USD.
• This represents $800 billion USD more than the investment in fossil fuels for the previous year.

Support for Developing Nations

The commitment of developed countries to support developing nations is a cornerstone of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), though performance has been mixed.

1. Annual Finance Goal: A target was set to provide $100 billion USD annually to developing countries for climate mitigation and adaptation.
2. Goal Achievement: The OECD reported that this $100 billion goal was finally met in 2022 and likely again in 2023.
3. Adaptation Finance Gap: Despite overall progress, dedicated finance for adaptation fell from $28 billion in 2022 to $25 billion in 2023, falling short of the $50 billion per year commitment for 2025.

Conclusion and Forward Outlook

Assessment of the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement has successfully shifted the global trajectory away from the worst-case climate scenarios and stimulated action in technology, policy, and finance. However, it has failed to place the world on a path to meet its own temperature goals, thereby falling short of the ambitions of SDG 13.

Recommendations for Future Action

To accelerate progress, experts suggest evolving the current framework.

• Integrate climate action more directly into global trade treaties.
• Shift focus from emissions targets alone to a managed, rapid transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy systems.
• Restructure international climate negotiations to focus on actionable progress within specific economic sectors.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article extensively discusses the growth in renewable power generation, such as solar and wind energy. It highlights that “renewables were a bigger source of electricity globally than coal” for the first time in 2025, making up “34.3 per cent of the electricity mix.” It also covers the rise of clean technologies like electric vehicles (EVs).
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article touches upon policies at the municipal level aimed at sustainability, citing “bans on new gas connections in buildings” as an example of local government action prompted by the Paris Agreement.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The shift towards cleaner technologies, particularly the growth in EV sales where “one in four new cars sold worldwide would be electric in 2025,” reflects a change in consumption patterns towards more sustainable options.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • This is the central theme of the article. It revolves around the Paris Agreement’s goal to keep global warming “well below 2 C” and strive for 1.5 C. The article details the progress and failures in this area, discussing rising global temperatures, greenhouse gas levels, and the implementation of national climate policies like carbon pricing and net-zero goals.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article is framed around the Paris Agreement, a global pact adopted by “nearly 200 countries.” It also details the financial commitments of developed countries to support developing nations, such as the goal to provide “$100 billion US annually” for climate action and adaptation, which is a key aspect of global partnership.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly addresses this by stating that renewables now constitute “34.3 per cent of the electricity mix” globally and that “clean energy has grown by an average of 13 per cent per year since 2020,” although it notes this rate needs to double.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article mentions the financial aid required for developing countries to “adapt” to climate change and highlights the increasing risk of “potentially deadly hot days per year.”
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article provides clear examples, stating that in Canada, the Paris Agreement allowed the federal government to introduce “national policies on carbon pricing, zero emissions vehicles and a net zero goal.”
   • Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties… to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually… to address the needs of developing countries. This target is explicitly discussed, noting the goal was to “provide $100 billion US annually” and that the OECD reported this goal was “finally hit… in 2022.”
3. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.7: Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries. The article mentions that China “began exporting ‘enormous amounts’ of solar to developing countries such as Pakistan and South Africa,” which directly relates to the diffusion of clean technology.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 7 and SDG 13:
   • Renewable energy share: The article provides a specific figure: “34.3 per cent of the electricity mix” from renewables, which serves as a direct measurement for Indicator 7.2.1 (Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption).
   • Global temperature increase: The article quantifies the change in average global temperature, stating it was “0.97 C higher” in 2015 and “1.35 C higher” in 2024 compared to pre-industrial times. This is a primary indicator for progress on climate action.
   • Greenhouse gas levels: The article mentions that “atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases that cause climate change… have continued rising to record-breaking levels,” implying the use of GHG concentration as a key indicator (related to Indicator 13.2.2).
   • Investment in clean energy vs. fossil fuels: The article states that investment in green energy “surpassed $2 trillion US in 2024, drawing $800 billion more than fossil fuels last year,” serving as a financial indicator of the energy transition.
2. Indicators for SDG 13 and SDG 17:
   • Climate finance mobilization: The article directly references the indicator for Target 13.a.1 by discussing the “$100-billion annual goal” and reporting that it was met in 2022. It also provides specific figures for adaptation finance, which “fell from $28 billion in 2022 to $25 billion in 2023.”
   • Adoption of national climate policies: The implementation of policies such as “carbon pricing,” “zero emissions vehicles,” and “a net zero goal” in Canada are concrete examples that can be used to measure the integration of climate action into national planning (Indicator 13.2.1).

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: cbc.ca