International response

In December 2015, the world stage witnessed the adoption of a monumental pact: the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. In a tense atmosphere, world leaders agreed on a common mission: to limit global temperature rises to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. A memorable achievement that paved the way for a concerted global fight against global warming.

The objectives established at this COP21 meeting revolve around reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the main source of rising temperatures. Developed countries have pledged to finance the efforts of developing countries to achieve a more sustainable and resilient development model.

One of the major aspects of the Paris Agreement is the flexibility built into its framework. Indeed, each country has the right to determine its own action plan to achieve the objectives of the agreement. These plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), are certainly guided by the global objectives, but each country can choose how and on what scale it wishes to act.

Although the agreement represents a major step forward in the fight against global warming, there is still a long way to go. The Paris Agreement is only the beginning of a complex and ongoing process, requiring close and constant global cooperation. Recent decades have seen a rapid and alarming rise in global temperatures, underlining the urgency of climate action.

It is imperative that we follow up these commitments with real, concrete action to safeguard our planet. Failure to meet these targets could have serious and irreversible consequences, including rising sea levels, higher temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events.

It is therefore crucial to understand that the future of our planet depends on the measures we take now, and that the Paris Agreement is one of the main tools for achieving this. Fighting climate change and moving towards sustainability are no longer options, they are necessities.

By adopting the Paris Agreement, the world has shown that it is capable of coming together to fight a common threat. We must now do all we can to put these plans into action. For the sake of our planet and future generations, compliance with the Paris Agreement and more sustainable development is a mission that no one should ignore any longer.

At the historic United Nations summit in 2015, the world united to give birth to 17 global goals for the prosperity of humanity and the planet. These ambitious goals are so far-reaching that they influence major global climate strategies and guide every country's sustainable development policies.

The overriding aim of these 17 international commitments is to protect our planet from exponential climate crises. They aspire to eradicate famine and poverty, while ensuring that everyone has access to clean, affordable energy sources. The priorities are clear: a rich, diverse and stable life on earth, and shared prosperity for all.

The challenge is colossal, and the road ahead is long. Starting with goal number 13, climate action takes center stage. The aim is to rapidly implement major measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The consequences of climate upheaval have gone on far too long: natural disasters, loss of biodiversity and rising global temperatures. It's high time we took action to protect Mother Nature.

Right next door, goal number 7 aims to establish clean, affordable energy. This is another key date in our fight against global warming. Abandoning our dependence on fossil fuels and embracing renewable energy sources is both an ecological necessity and an incredible economic opportunity. With ever more innovative technologies, green energy is reinvigorating our fight for sustainability.

The two goals, 13 and 7, are inextricably linked to the rest of the 17. Peace and prosperity cannot be achieved without considering our environmental impact. We still have a decade to achieve these Sustainable Development Goals and show that we are worthy custodians of our beautiful planet. Let's stay united, let's reinvent the different facets of our daily lives, let's share resources equitably and let's look after every living species.

It's an arduous task, but the future of our planet and its inhabitants depends on our success. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are not unattainable ideals, but milestones on a road we must all travel to ensure a healthy future for our children. Together, let's make this decade the time for change, the time for climate action and sustainable development.

Facing up to the climate emergency: Forces at work (in French)

International organizations and bold initiatives are at the forefront of global strategies to combat global warming, contributing to relentless sustainable development.

When it comes to tackling global challenges, the United Nations (UN) is often at the forefront. Indeed, its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is one of the most ambitious ever drawn up, enjoying unprecedented international recognition and support. This initiative centered on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims to resolve a multitude of crises, including global warming.

Another key player is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Bringing together thousands of scientists and climate experts from around the world, the IPCC provides detailed and rigorous assessments of the trends and risks associated with climate change.

Beyond the large-scale structures, other exciting initiatives are springing up in every corner of the globe. For example, Africa's Great Green Wall aims to combat desertification in the Sahel, underlining the link between climate change and sustainable development.

Among technological innovations, the Solar Impulse initiative seeks to prove that solar energy can support long-distance air missions, laying the foundations for a viable energy transition.

Between our warming planet and the imperative need for sustainability, these organizations and initiatives are leading the way, creating new solutions, and proving, through their actions, that global warming can be fought through innovation, cooperation and commitment to a common future.

Their audacity and ingenuity are beacons of hope for humanity, and they invite the whole world to reconsider current lifestyles, at a time when the battle against global warming is more urgent than ever.

In an era of growing climate imbalance, progress in the fight against global warming is often overshadowed by equally significant obstacles. Faced with the ever-present challenges of climate change, the whole world is moving to reverse the dangerous trend we have helped to create.

Firstly, the results of our efforts against climate change are more than evident. The adoption of renewable energies has been rapid and universal, surpassing fossil fuels in many countries around the world. Green technologies, from electric cars to solar cookers, have become not only viable, but often preferred to their traditional alternatives. This is a strong signal of the collective change in mentality towards respect for environmental skills.

However, it would be naïve not to recognize the challenges that these efforts still have to overcome. Perhaps the greatest of these is the persistent imbalance between industrialized and developing countries. While the former have been the main contributors to the current situation, they are also in a privileged position to cope with the effects of climate change. This inequality has led to tensions and disagreements that have made it more difficult to reach solid and equitable global agreements.

The second major problem is greenhouse gas emissions. While it is encouraging to see considerable efforts to reduce these emissions, the amount that continues to be emitted is still significant. Fossil fuels, major sources of emissions, still dominate the global energy mix. In addition, industry and agriculture, also major sources of emissions, are more difficult to regulate.

Combating climate change is not a challenge that can be overcome in isolation, but one that the entire international community must rise to. This fight implies a global commitment to go beyond promises and implement concrete actions on the ground. Despite the difficulties, it is important to focus on the successes achieved so far, and to use these victories to continue moving towards a sustainable future. In this existential struggle, every little step counts.

The rapid and worrying evolution of the climate on our beautiful blue planet calls for serious reflection on future climate negotiations. This subject, more topical than ever, requires the involvement of every nation, whose primary role will be to reconcile economic development with environmental preservation.

Focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the fight against deforestation and the adaptation of societies to climate change, future climate negotiations will take into account changing global circumstances, including heightened public awareness of the climate emergency and the private sector's growing commitment to sustainable development.

It is essential that, at the heart of these negotiations, climate equity is taken into account. Since developed countries are responsible for a large share of historical CO2 emissions, they must assume a leadership role in emission reduction efforts and help developing countries adapt to the inevitable consequences of global warming.

Negotiations on the greening of the economy could also be stepped up. Because climate change mitigation measures are often perceived as a brake on growth, the transition to renewable energy sources and technological innovation represent considerable economic opportunities.

There are many other issues that could feature on the agenda of forthcoming climate negotiations, including the protection of biodiversity and the sea, often regarded as the great forgotten areas of international agreements. The major challenge will be to put in place realistic, effective and equitable solutions at global level, which will both combat climate change and promote sustainable development.

As we think of tomorrow, of our children and the world we will leave them, it is our duty to encourage the climate negotiations to move forward constructively. Because when it comes to the climate, time is our greatest adversary. And do we need to remind ourselves that every day counts?