1.5 To Stay Alive? AOSIS and the Long Term Temperature Goal in the Paris Agreement

5 Pages Posted: 9 Jun 2019

See all articles by Lisa Benjamin

Lisa Benjamin

Lewis & Clark College Paul L Boley Library

Adelle Thomas

University of the Bahamas

Date Written: January 22, 2016

Abstract

The global temperature goals contained in Article 2 of the Paris Agreement1 have been widely touted as a major marker of the success of the agreement. In particular, the aspirational goal of pursuing efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels was a surprise to many observers of the negotiations. However, inclusion of the 1.5°C long term temperature goal had been a long-fought struggle, led by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), and resulted mainly from the Structured Expert Dialogue (SED) on the 2013-2015 review. This insight piece provides an overview of the results of the 2013-2015 review in light of the 1.5°C temperature goal, and its importance for small island states. The piece also charts the convoluted course of the outcome of the 2013-2015 review in the Paris negotiations, the consequential recognition of the 1.5°C goal in the agreement, and provides some initial thoughts of the adequacy of this provision in the Paris Agreement.

Keywords: Climate Change, AOSIS

Suggested Citation

Benjamin, Lisa and Thomas, Adelle, 1.5 To Stay Alive? AOSIS and the Long Term Temperature Goal in the Paris Agreement (January 22, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3392503 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3392503

Lisa Benjamin (Contact Author)

Lewis & Clark College Paul L Boley Library ( email )

10015 S.W. Terwilliger Blvd.
Portland, OR 97219
United States

Adelle Thomas

University of the Bahamas

PO Box N-4912
Nassau
Bahamas

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