The Paris Agreement at 10: A Celebration and a Call to Action

Ten years after its 2015 adoption, the Paris Agreement has shifted the projected global warming trajectory from 4.8 degrees C to between 2.3 and 2.9 degrees C, though it remains off track for the 1.5 degrees C goal. While clean technology growth has exceeded expectations—with electric vehicles now comprising a fifth of auto sales and solar and wind electricity generation tripling—current nationally determined contributions (NDCs) would deliver less than 14% of the emissions reductions needed by 2035. The author argues that the next decade requires a total economic transformation, a more aggressive approach to phasing out fossil fuels, and a remodeled multilateral process where COP decisions are not subject to a veto by a few nations. Key priorities include supporting the green transitions of large middle-income countries, which account for 60% of global emissions, and integrating climate commitments into national economic policies.

• The Paris Agreement has significantly lowered the projected global warming by 2100 from 4.8 degrees C to a range of 2.3-2.9 degrees C, provided all countries honor their commitments.
• Clean energy and technology have seen rapid growth since 2015: electric vehicle sales now represent 20% of total auto sales, and the share of solar and wind in total electricity generation has tripled.
• Current national climate plans (NDCs) are insufficient, as they would provide less than 14% of the emissions reductions required by 2035 to maintain the 1.5 degrees C limit.
• The fossil fuel industry has used its political and financial power to hinder the low-carbon transition, evidenced by the removal of a roadmap to end fossil fuel use from the final agreement at COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
• Large middle-income countries are critical to global success because they represent 60% of global emissions and 40% of global GDP.

APA

Dasgupta, A. (2025). The Paris Agreement at 10: A Celebration and a Call to Action. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/paris-agreement-progress-10-years

Chicago

Dasgupta, Ani. The Paris Agreement at 10: A Celebration and a Call to Action. World Resources Institute, 2025. https://www.wri.org/insights/paris-agreement-progress-10-years.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Dasgupta |first1=Ani |title=The Paris Agreement at 10: A Celebration and a Call to Action |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=11 December 2025 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/paris-agreement-progress-10-years |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{dasgupta2025paris, author = {Dasgupta, Ani}, title = {{The Paris Agreement at 10: A Celebration and a Call to Action}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/paris-agreement-progress-10-years}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }