Introduction

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 by 195 United Nations countries in Paris, aims to combat climate change by reducing fossil fuels. The Agreement aims to keep global temperature increases well below 2°C, preferably limiting it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The agreement requires countries to reduce emissions swiftly, aiming for net-zero emissions by the mid-21st century, with a suggested 50% cut in emissions by 2030.
Conservative Perspective
The Paris Agreement has been widely criticized by conservatives on the account of its unattainability, the associated wealth transfer, and the power it provides a distant foreign entity, the United Nations, over the livelihoods of citizens of disparate countries. No western countries are on track to hit their targets and there is an inability to reduce one’s targets, a country can only withdraw from the agreement.
- Boutilier, Alex. 2019. "Federal Conservatives undecided on Paris Agreement climate-change targets." Toronto Star. April 29. https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/federal-conservatives-undecided-on-paris-agreement-climate-change-targets/article_ae207d0d-61eb-5ead-90ac-0e84fa5137f2.html.
- Taylor, Andy. 2019. "Paris Agreement reflects conservative values." The Hill. April 30. https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/441444-paris-agreement-reflects-conservative-values/.