US President Joe Biden signed a decree returning the United States to the Paris Agreement On his first working day. The National Environmental Protection Agency welcomes the country's return to the Paris Agreement and considers it an important step in the fight against climate change.
Undoubtedly, the return of the United States to this agreement is a positive step towards cohesion, ‎consensus, and coordination in the fight against climate change, including the reduction of global ‎greenhouse gas emissions. Afghanistan, which has the lowest share (0.08 percent) in greenhouse gas ‎emissions has suffered the most damage and danger, and in this regard, while emphasizing the ‎implementation of the commitments of the industrialized countries of the world to reduce ‎greenhouse gas emissions, ensures the fulfillment of its international obligations.‎
Importance of the Paris Agreement:
Although Afghanistan has the lowest share in the world ranking, it is highly vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change, which ranks 176th out of 181 countries according to the ND-Gain Index.
At the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in 2015, the members of the United Nations ‎Framework Convention on Climate Change met in Paris, France, and signed the Paris Agreement in order ‎to implement the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, maintaining global temperature less than 2 degrees Celsius before global industrialization. The ‎previous US administration refused to sign the agreement and withdrew. They rejoined the ‎agreement when the new US administration took office.‎
Undoubtedly, the return of the United States to this agreement is a positive step towards effective global action in increasing funding for global climate change financial mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to global climate change, which can be promising.
Commitments of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the implementation of the Paris Agreement:
Afghanistan became a member of the Paris Agreement on February 17, 2016, according to which it prepared a document of its specific national participation and sent it to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conditional commitment of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is to reduce national emissions by 13.6 percent in 2030 compared to the usual scenario.
The reduction is conditional on receiving about $ 17.4 billion in funding between 2020 and 2030.