This is my last post on COP21. I realized there were other parts of the agreement I did not agree with, but there was one aspect that really struck me as central to climate action - the necessity for legally binding agreements.
The lack of legally binding-ness, is another problem highlighted by many others. It is not mentioned in the agreement at all (or rather, it is phrased as 'partly legally binding and partly voluntary'), and without any consequences for offending polluters, it is all an empty promise. Additionally, without any sanctions, taxes, or any other repercussions, it still puts fossil fuels on the market as they are still arguably the cheapest fuels available. Some such as Hansen (2015) have suggested a carbon fee as a way of incentivizing lower emissions.
Furthermore, as noble as voluntary agreements could be, without any specific financial compensation for poor nations who are disproportionately hit by climate change, there is no climate justice. Additionally, without any legal repercussions for not abiding by the agreement, poorer nations will be hit even harder - which again breaches climate justice. There is no environmental justice - despite what others claim it to be.
Although there are so many aspects of the agreement that I am not completely happy with, we must also acknowledge that the COP21 agreement is definitely a step in the right direction. I only hope that the future COP summits will acknowledge more on the actual causes of anthropogenic climate change (such as our unfortunate reliance on fossil fuels, as well as overuse of nitrogen fertilizer.) I also hope to see more on the technological aspect on how to combat climate change. For example, the lack of mentions of technological advancement in combating climate change such as carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management. However, I am still hopeful that there is a way for humanity to come together properly without any fossil fuel backing in the future.
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