These aren’t the only problems that may occur from climate change. If global warming rises above 5 degrees Celsius, it could mean the end of human civilization. While we are a long way away from that 5 degrees, there is also a point of no return where even stopping all carbon emissions completely won’t be enough to save the planet. It is a serious threat to our world and our survival.

Luckily, there is hope that complete disaster caused by climate change can be avoided. For the first time ever, hundreds of countries gathered together for a single cause, to limit their carbon footprint and bring concrete change to the problem of a warming climate.

The Paris Climate Accord is an agreement set in 2016 that would begin a global effort to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius. In a nutshell, each country according to its ability would work toward lowering the amount of green house gasses going into the atmosphere.

The goal is for each country to begin making changes by 2020, with concrete steps being taken all the way. As of now, every single country in the world has signed the pledge except for the United States, who backed out of it. Even then, over 20 states and 60 different cities throughout the USA have agreed to abide by the pledge, and ignore the wishes of the federal level of government.

This makes the Paris Climate Accord a landmark achievement, because it is one of the only agreements the entire world has adopted. Today, many countries have already started taking enormous steps toward carbon reduction.

The rules of the accord are fairly loose, and not legally binding. The hope is to make the accord flexible enough that every country can participate without being forced out due to funds or lack of ability. It was also designed to avoid frightening off the countries most responsible for the pollution. The accord quite simply asks each and every country to reduce their emissions, and to help take a stand in the fight against global warming. It is a proud moment in history that nearly everyone on the planet agreed as one to do this, as much as they are able. The results are already beginning to be seen, and are both prompt and hopeful.