The Paris climate accord established basic emission-curbing standards. 80 countries want to do more.
It's about time for some good climate news.
About 80 countries have signaled they want to take bolder action toward curbing climate change, the United Nations announced Tuesday. These countries committed to a base level of environmental protections under the Paris climate accord, but seeing as that agreement won't prevent the worst effects of climate change, they're looking to do more, The New York Times reports.
2015's Paris accords brought hundreds of cities and countries together in a pledge to curb carbon emissions and keep global temperature rise under 2 degrees Celsius. It doesn't take effect until 2020, but about 80 unspecified countries are looking to up their commitment already, the U.N. said. The U.N. didn't specify just how much more climate action these countries were willing to take, but they're expected to announce their intentions at a September global summit, the Times continues.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Tuesday's announcement is good news for the planet, seeing as a two-degree temperature rise would still devastate the Earth. Then again, the world isn't even on track to meet the current Paris agreement, as the Times pointed out at the end of 2018. And of course, the U.S. — one of the biggest carbon emitters out there — backed out of the 2015 Paris accords under President Trump. So it's unclear just how much this still-unspecified U.N. announcement will do to actually save the planet from certain human-caused climate disaster.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Antony Gormley's Time Horizon – a 'judgmental army' of 100 cast-iron men
The Week Recommends Sculptures are 'everymen questioning the privilege of their surroundings' at the Norfolk stately home
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'King's horses take free rein through London'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Is pop music now too reliant on gossip?
Talking Point Taylor Swift's new album has prompted a flurry of speculation over who she is referring to in her songs
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published