A prelude to the climate peak in Paris

Text: Eszter Götz

Paris hosts COP 21, the 21st Climate Conference of the UN between November 30th and December 11th. The meeting concerning a total of 195 countries ambitions to have a global agreement signed by the participants by which climate change can be relieved and the average increase of temperature can be kept below 2°C. COP 21 is the most significant international conference associated with climate change. The meeting in Paris must produce an international cooperation which results in the reduction of greenhouse effect gases and the transformation of societies and economies so that they are less dependent on fossil fuels (crude oil, coal, natural gas). Without such an agreement the risks involved are unimaginably enormous: the growth of the average temperature may reach 4,8°C by the end of the century, rising the sea level and water temperatures, decreasing biodiversity, prolonging droughts, extreme weather conditions growing more and more frequent. The commitment of the member countries of the COP 21 is thus a key condition to the future of the whole planet.