Research Blog

Our Research Questions

The development of this research initiative takes precedence from the growing activity of institutions to engage with the public on environmental sustainability. We want to understand what institutions proclaim that needs to happen but also the legitimacy of their communication efforts.

 What makes the public convinced about taking action on the forefront of environmental sustainability?

How are institutions coordinating their actions in order to address risks associated with the climate?

What are the important messages that can persuade an audience about the necessity for change?

Why should people  accept their message and why will they should change their behaviour as a result of this message?

 

“Leaders emphasized the need to put nature, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action.137 Heads of State and government unprecedently committed to new ambition on food systems transformation within their national climate plans under the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, alongside pioneering regenerative agriculture and climate-food innovation financing commitments totalling $2.6BN. In a watershed moment for climate and health, 125 countries endorsed the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health, and finance providers mobilized an initial tranche of $1BN for climate and health solutions.” (COP28)

The Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty on climate change that was adopted by 195 countries at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France in December 2015. The Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016.

The Paris Agreement is significant for several reasons:

    • It is the first universal, legally binding climate change agreement. All countries, rich and poor, have agreed to take action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
    • It sets a clear goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This goal is significant because every additional degree of warming will lead to more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems.
    • It establishes a system for countries to set their own emissions reduction targets and to review and revise those targets every five years. This allows countries to tailor their commitments to their own circumstances and capabilities.
  • It creates a fund to provide financial assistance to developing countries to help them reduce their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. This is a crucial element of the Agreement, as developing countries are often the most vulnerable to climate change but have the least resources to address it.

     

     

     

    Here are some of the specific provisions of the Paris Agreement that make it so important:

      • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each country has developed its own NDC, which outlines its plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. NDCs are reviewed every five years, and countries are encouraged to strengthen their commitments over time.
      • Transparency Framework: The Agreement establishes a transparency framework to ensure that countries are accountable for their emissions reductions pledges. Countries are required to report on their progress annually, and this information is reviewed by an independent panel.
      • Adaptation Fund: The Adaptation Fund is a financial mechanism that provides grants and concessional loans to developing countries to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.
    • Loss and Damage: The Agreement acknowledges that developing countries are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and it establishes a process to address these issues.