Environment

Paris Agreement, UNFCCC and COP Summits

The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in December 2015 and came into force on 4 November 2016. It aims to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Each country sets its own Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Last reviewed 2026-10-15

Key treaties

UNFCCC (1992, Rio Earth Summit): the parent climate treaty. Secretariat in Bonn.
Kyoto Protocol (1997, in force 2005): legally binding emission targets for developed countries.
Paris Agreement (2015): every country submits NDCs, reviewed periodically. It is not based on legally binding national targets.
Montreal Protocol (1987): phases out ozone-depleting substances.

India and recent COPs

At COP26 (Glasgow, 2021) India announced a target of net-zero emissions by 2070.
COP27: Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (2022). COP28: Dubai, UAE (2023). COP29: Baku, Azerbaijan (2024). COP30: Belem, Brazil (2025).
The International Solar Alliance, co-founded by India and France, is headquartered in Gurugram.

Frequently asked questions

What is the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement?

Well below 2 degrees Celsius, pursuing 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Where did India announce its net-zero 2070 target?

At COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.

What is an NDC?

A Nationally Determined Contribution, each country's own climate action plan under the Paris Agreement.