The Paris Climate Agreement, also known as the Paris Agreement, is an international agreement signed by 196 parties in 2015 to combat climate change. The agreement`s goal is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels.

So who exactly is part of the Paris Climate Agreement? The short answer is that almost every country in the world is a signatory, but let`s break it down a bit more.

The Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, and as of June 2021, 191 parties have ratified the agreement. That includes 190 countries and the European Union, which collectively accounted for 96.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2015.

The remaining five parties that have signed but not yet ratified the agreement are Angola, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, and South Sudan. However, it`s worth noting that Iran and Iraq have submitted their ratification documents and are expected to fully join the agreement soon.

The Paris Agreement includes both developed and developing countries, with each party setting its own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These targets, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), are reviewed every five years to ensure that they are still ambitious enough to meet the agreement`s goals.

Of the parties that have ratified the agreement, the top greenhouse gas emitters are China, the United States, the European Union, India, and Russia. These five parties together account for more than half of global greenhouse gas emissions.

It`s important to note that while the Paris Agreement is a significant step towards addressing climate change, it is not a legally binding treaty. Instead, it relies on voluntary commitments from parties to reduce emissions and provide financial assistance to developing countries.

In conclusion, the Paris Climate Agreement has been ratified by almost every country in the world, including the major greenhouse gas emitters. While the agreement is not legally binding, it represents a crucial effort to combat climate change and limit global warming to a manageable level. As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change, the Paris Agreement serves as a beacon of hope for a brighter, more sustainable future.