Paris Agreement adopted at COP21 (2015), entered into force 2016
On 12 December 2015 at COP21, 195 Parties adopted the Paris Agreement, committing to hold the rise in global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C. The treaty entered into force on 4 November 2016 and now has 194 Parties. In the causal graph this event sets in motion Decarbonization and climate-mitigation policy, a driver that weakens Global CO2 emissions per capita — an improving welfare path.
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On 12 December 2015 at COP21, 195 Parties adopted the Paris Agreement, committing to hold the rise in global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C. The treaty entered into force on 4 November 2016 and now has 194 Parties.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
Direct responsibility
responsibility level 0.7 · verified
The UNFCCC convened the negotiations that produced the Paris Agreement and administers its implementation; a foundational positive contribution to global decarbonization policy.
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactParis Agreement adopted at COP21 (2015), entered into force 2016
- sets in motionDriverDecarbonization and climate-mitigation policy
- weakensIndicators (3)Global CO2 emissions per capita
impact weight 0.85 · Effect from 12 December 2015 · verified
The Paris Agreement established the modern global decarbonization-policy regime (binding NDC framework, temperature goals), initiating and anchoring the driver.
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.51 (weight 0.85 × strength 0.6)
Observed
4.73 tonnes CO2 per person per year · 2.43 above the normal line (2024)
Worse than normalTwo readings: 4.71 tonnes CO2 per person per year (2023) and 4.73 tonnes CO2 per person per year (2024).
20232024 Above normal = worse
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.42 (weight 0.85 × strength 0.5)
Observed
32.9 micrograms per cubic metre (annual mean, population-weighted) · 27.9 above the normal line (2023)
Worse than normal3 readings, 2021–2023: fell from 33.2 micrograms per cubic metre (annual mean, population-weighted) to 32.9 micrograms per cubic metre (annual mean, population-weighted).
Above normal = worse
- Better
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.34 (weight 0.85 × strength 0.4)
Observed
30% of electricity generation · 11 above the normal line (2023)
Better than normal6 readings, 2000–2023: rose from 18.9% of electricity generation to 30% of electricity generation.
Above normal = better
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- ActorUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- contributed toFactParis Agreement adopted at COP21 (2015), entered into force 2016
- sets in motionDriverDecarbonization and climate-mitigation policy
- weakensIndicatorGlobal CO2 emissions per capita
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). Paris Agreement adopted at COP21 (2015), entered into force 2016. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/env-fact-paris-agreement-2015
https://factrail.ai/facts/env-fact-paris-agreement-2015
Accessed 17 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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