The Paris Agreement to the UNFCCC: Underlying Dynamics and Expected Consequences for the Energy Sector

European Energy Law Report Vol. XI, Martha Roggenkamp & Catherine Banet (eds.), Chapter 4, pp. 71-91. ISBN 978-1-78068-469-7

Posted: 9 Jan 2018

See all articles by Catherine Banet

Catherine Banet

Department of Energy and Resources Law, Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo, Faculty of Law

Date Written: November 1, 2017

Abstract

The adoption of the Paris Agreement on 12 December 2015 and its rapid entry into force on 4 November 2016 marked a new milestone in the history of international climate governance. It was a historic moment of worldwide consensus around the need to move forward on actions to address climate change and its adverse impacts. It ensures continuity in the international climate change regime after the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ends in 2020. This revival of multilateralism was obvious already during the opening in Paris of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC, where over 150 Heads of State and Government were present at the High Level Segment. This showed a strong commitment in direction of both the negotiators and non-state actors. The resulting Paris Agreement provides for a new impetus in the international climate change regime, but the content and implementation of the new regime sketched in the agreement must be further defined in order for it not to remain an empty shell.

The chapter starts by placing the Paris Agreement within the UNFCCC regime. Then, the objective is twofold. First, it aims to characterize the underlying dynamics created by the legally and non-legally binding provisions of the Agreement. Secondly, it focuses on the expected effects of the Agreement on the energy sector.

Keywords: climate change, UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, energy, mitigation, climate finance, technology transfer

Suggested Citation

Banet, Catherine, The Paris Agreement to the UNFCCC: Underlying Dynamics and Expected Consequences for the Energy Sector (November 1, 2017). European Energy Law Report Vol. XI, Martha Roggenkamp & Catherine Banet (eds.), Chapter 4, pp. 71-91. ISBN 978-1-78068-469-7, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3096391

Catherine Banet (Contact Author)

Department of Energy and Resources Law, Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo, Faculty of Law ( email )

P.O. box 6706
St. Olavs plass
Oslo, 0130
Norway

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.jus.uio.no/nifs/english/people/aca/catherb/index.html

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