The Paris Agreement is a landmark international agreement that seeks to address the issue of climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement was adopted on December 12, 2015, at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris, France.

The development of the Paris Agreement was a collaborative effort by all 195 member countries of the UNFCCC. The agreement was the culmination of years of negotiations and discussions among governments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders. The process began in 2011 with the adoption of the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, which launched a new round of negotiations aimed at developing a new international climate agreement by 2015.

The negotiations leading up to the Paris Agreement were complex and involved a wide range of issues, including setting emissions reduction targets, establishing a mechanism for monitoring and reporting progress, providing financial and technical support to developing countries, and addressing the loss and damage caused by climate change.

One of the key features of the Paris Agreement is its recognition of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. This principle acknowledges that developed countries have contributed the most to global greenhouse gas emissions historically and have a greater responsibility to take action to address climate change. At the same time, developing countries also have a role to play in reducing their emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

The Paris Agreement was hailed as a major achievement in the fight against climate change, with many governments and civil society organizations welcoming its adoption. However, there are also many challenges in implementing the agreement, including the need for greater ambition in emissions reduction targets, securing funding for developing countries, and ensuring enforcement and accountability.

Overall, the Paris Agreement represents a historic moment in the international effort to address climate change. While its development was a collaborative effort involving all member countries of the UNFCCC, it also reflects the growing recognition of the urgent need to take action to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.