Paris Climate Agreement (what are political party policies?)
You’ve likely heard of the Paris Climate Agreement, but most newspapers or TV news programs don’t go into more detail, on what it is, and why it matters. We see prime ministers and presidents fly around the world to talk about it. Let’s learn more about it, and what English political party policies are on it.
What is the Paris Climate Agreement?
All climate scientists say that climate change is real (and mostly caused by humans) and that the only way to stop irreversible and catastrophic change, is to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 (and ‘net-zero’ by 2050) to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C (the same as pre-industrial levels).
In order to do this, there must be a dramatic increase on climate action by governments, mostly to reduce fossil fuels (from transport, energy use and livestock factory farming). But this window is rapidly closing, as major countries continue to not listen to climate scientists.
The central promise of the Paris Agreement is to limit the average global temperature rise to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to keep it under 1.5°C.
Scientists agree that staying under these thresholds reduces the risks of severe droughts, floods, heatwaves, and sea level rise. This shared goal sets the direction for efforts worldwide.
Almost Every Country Signed Up
As of 2025, only three countries had not ratified the Paris Agreement, although President Trump has now also announced his attention to withdraw, which is presently going through, despite the USA being the world’s second largest emitter of planet-warming gases.
Reform UK plans to scrap Net Zero, so presumably would then become just one of five countries on the entire planet, not to honour the Paris Climate Agreement.
Locals in the Reform-run Kent county council have recently been aghast, after a summer of heatwaves and floods, that the council has taken back the council’s declaration of a climate emergency. All opposition parties said this was anti-science and dangerous.
The three countries waiting to be confirmed ratified are:
- Iran has signed the agreement, but won’t sanction it until economic sanctions are lifted. These have been put in place due to support for terrorism, nuclear and missile development programs, along with human rights abuses.
- Libya had not signed and ratified the Agreement, but it looks like now it is or just has, due to experiencing rising temperatures in one of the hottest areas of earth.
- Yemen again has not ratified the agreement, due to political arguments and conflict, but hopefully will soon.
Nationally Determined Contributions
Each country set its own climate action plan, called a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). These plans include targets to lower carbon emissions and details of how each nation aims to reach those targets. Individual countries review and submit updated plans every five years, making the process ongoing and keeping momentum.
The Paris Agreement does not force countries to hit specific carbon targets by law. Instead, it relies on transparency, regular reporting, and peer pressure to drive progress. Countries must report their greenhouse gas emissions and track actions, so everyone can see if promises turn into real results.
Support For Developing Countries
Low-income countries face the harshest effects of climate change but often lack the resources to respond. The agreement requires richer countries to provide funding and support for poorer nations.
This covers both cuts to emissions and help to adapt to new climate realities. The aim is a fairer spread of costs and benefits.
Scaling Up Climate Finance
One goal is for developed countries to mobilise at least $100 billion per year to help developing nations fight climate change. This money supports projects such as clean energy, better infrastructure, and new farming methods.
Getting this funding on track has been slow, but the target encourages more investment and action.
Political Party Policies on Paris Agreement
Environmental journalist George Monbiot does not hold out much hope for MPs, on the Paris Agreement:
Do they understand what they have signed? Plainly they do not. Governments not ratifying the Paris agreement on climate change, haven’t the faintest idea what it means. Either that, or they have no intention of honouring it. George Monbiot
Still, let’s have a look at what official party policies are of our main parties:
Conservative
It supports the legally-binding Net Zero by 2050. But is gradually watering this down, due to worries about affecting industry and the rise of Reform which does not acknowledge climate change science. It would ban new incinerators, but still wishes to issue new licenses to drill for oil in the North Sea.
Labour
It is becoming obsessed with blighting our country with offshore wind farms and more solar power, when of course the real solution is to reduce energy use through walkable communities, local food (driving pesticide-covered food from central distribution houses to 24-hour lit supermarkets driven by lorries uses a lot more fossil fuels than good town planning).
Lib Dems
It does take the issue more seriously, with a commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050. It did approve new oil and gas drilling licenses, but thankfully appears now to have changed its mind, in line with Greens.
Greens
Has almost the same policies as the Lib Dems, with more action on insulating all homes, and has plans also to help tackle climate emissions in developing countries, essential to achieve the goal of reducing irreversible climate change.
Reform
Wants to scrap Net Zero completely, and increase the use of fossil fuels, for lower energy bills and ‘economic growth’. Their policies for the planet are seriously concerning, showing how other parties not addressing the genuine concerns over the boat crisis, has led barmpot politics to take over.
This party even said that England was warmer 2000 years ago to grow grapes in Yorkshire, so that’s okay then that we are hurtling to climatic catastrophe?
People in the USA are now terrified that polar bears could go extinct, as Donald Trump wants to drill their Arctic homes for more oil and gas. And like in the US, Reform is bankrolled by the very fossil fuel companies that we need to replace, to stop climate change.
What are Political Policies on Climate Change?
Climate Radicals is a unique book, that bravely asks whether some environmental politicians are actually harming the cause of preventing climate change, due to disappointing policies, despite good intentions.
In Germany, voters consider the planet a major issue and has some of the most powerful Greens in government, so the country should be a world leader in combating climate change, but this has not been the case. So what has happened?
This large European country is full of eco-activists who demand the immediate phase out of coal mines and there are often school strikes and other demonstrations. But change comes from ‘boring policy acts’, not demonstrations.
Despite the US obviously having huge environmental political issues, Joe Biden’s climate change act actually has done more to reduce climate change than the Green-led German politicians. Why is this?
Why does radical protest not lead to policy change? How can real policy change happen, without movement on the streets? Adam Tooze (history professor, Columbia University)
This close-up study of German climate politics, reveals an obsession with performance over policy. Kirkus Reviews
Cameron Abadi is a deputy editor at Foreign Policy, and has worked as a freelance correspondent in Germany and Iran. He lives in Germany.
Public Opinion and Political Influence
All climate scientists say that no political party (apart from Greens who won’t get into power anytime soon) are too weak, even the Lib Dems. And in the US, Democrats don’t go far enough. Donald Trump (who has no science background whatsoever) believes that climate change is a hoax (he’s even claimed once that China invented it to make more sales).
Republicans overall don’t see it as an issue (strange considering this right-wing ‘for the family’ party don’t seem to be aware that if we get catastrophic events like floods and wildfires even worse, they will lose their families as we will all die). Although Republican voters do support some clean energy, this appears only if also supporting local oil/gas drilling too, to build the economy.
Public opinion affects political decisions more than you might realise. Politicians keep a close eye on voter attitudes when crafting policies or campaigning for office.
Polls regularly reveal shifting public views on climate change. Studies show younger generations are more likely to consider it a priority.
For example, surveys from groups like Pew Research Centre report a significant rise in public concern over extreme weather and rising sea levels. However, opinions are often divided along party lines, especially in countries like the US, where political polarisation is high.
Concern over climate change influences how people vote. In recent elections, more voters have prioritised candidates with green agendas. In countries like Germany, environmental parties have gained traction due to growing awareness.
On the flip side, populist parties often target sceptics by downplaying climate issues. These patterns show climate policies are becoming a greater factor in election outcomes.
Reasons Why the Kyoto Protocol Failed
You’ve likely heard of the Kyoto Climate Protocol, but what exactly is it? It’s true that the main way to stop climate change is to live simply ourselves, but when massive countries like China and the USA are causing more pollution than us, it’s important to put some legal actions into play.
The Kyoto Protocol set targets on carbon emissions for each developed country, but it ran into problems from the outset, when Congress in the USA did not want to have to play ball, so they could continue to support the automobile and airline industries.
In the end, the USA did not really get involved. And since then other treaties have had little success. Why is this? Because you can’t rely on any government to solve climate change, as always there are too many vested interests (same with the media).
Ecological writer Satish Kumar quotes Einstein in that ‘you can’t solve a problem, using the same thinking that created it’. We have to go back to learning that we must work with nature.
