On December 12, 2015, delegates from nearly every country met in Paris, France. They arrived with a new sense of hope. After decades of discussion, most world governments had agreed on a set of international climate goals. They appear in the Paris Climate Agreement, the first binding international agreement on climate change.

For many, the Paris Agreement represented the first meaningful step in combating climate change. It sets goals for global average temperatures and requires countries to submit plans and timelines for reducing emissions. Every year, delegates meet at the Conference of the Parties or COP. The COP is the United Nations Conference on Climate Change and the group that created the Paris Agreement. The members review the latest science and progress toward goals. Worldwide, these goals guide countries’ policies and influence local governments. They have influenced corporations to change their practices to address climate change.

Understanding climate goals

Climate goals cover emissions-reduction targets such as net zero, outline the specific steps to reduce emissions, and create protections from the effects of climate change for the most vulnerable people. Most climate goals have a time goal. They include language like “get to net zero by 2050” or “stop burning fossil fuels by 2030.” The proposed timing is important: Reaching net zero by 2050 means something very different from reaching it by 2100. Each requires a different level of effort and investment. Each leads to a different future for climate change and our ability to respond to it. Timelines are often a key piece of setting goals, and this is especially true with climate change. A few years can mean a big difference for many people.

International agreements help countries move toward action. However, one of the biggest criticisms of agreements is that they don’t have much power. International bodies such as the United Nations cannot enforce such policies directly. They rely on voluntary cooperation from UN countries. But what happens when countries don’t meet their commitments? Countries can collectively refuse trade or partnerships with those that consistently do not prioritize climate change. The United Nations and other countries can also impose social pressure at the discussions on progress, which take place each year. Beyond this, there’s little that can be done to ensure accountability.

The Paris Agreement sets out international goals. The “how” of reducing emissions is left to the countries themselves. National goals are important because governments have a right to create and manage policies. Each country can address how to move from goals to action. It’s best for a country—not an international organization—to determine what percentage of its electricity generation needs to come from wind energy or how it should deal with heat waves.

Countries create national climate goals that influence all levels of government below them. However, the powers of state and local governments vary greatly depending on the country. A small country might have multiple local or state governments. A large country, like the United States, has several levels of government.

Exploring climate goals in the United States

The U.S. federal government has power over activities that cross state borders. These activities include national transportation infrastructure, electricity transmission, and air and water pollution. Therefore, it has the power to make policies for vehicle manufacturing and sales, electricity transmission standards, and pollution amounts. The national government also has the power to buy goods and services and support climate-friendly industries, like clean energy and low-carbon cement companies. It can invest in research and development for better building materials. It sets policies that trickle down to regional and local governments, making national climate goals even more significant.

Changes in our presidency and Congress can affect the country’s climate goals. These changes are an important part of a democracy, but they can cause changes in climate-change policy. Inconsistent approaches often mean slower progress. Many industries hesitate to commit to targets or rely on policies that might change in a few years. Current national goals prioritize “reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels in 2030.”¹ This goal could change depending on who wins the next election.

State governments play a key role in regulating electricity generation. They can require electricity utility companies to invest in renewable energy and can plan infrastructure and public works projects. They can choose low-carbon building materials for these projects. State and local governments often state their climate goals in climate action plans (CAPs). These documents might include steps, timelines, and who is responsible for each goal.

Local governments at the county or city level also play a role. They can design climate strategies for the needs of their local economy and environment.

These governments can regulate how buildings are constructed and renovated through building codes. The codes can be updated to require full electrification or low-carbon building materials. Local governments can improve public transportation options and expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Local American governments have a lot of power. This is especially true when it comes to addressing climate change goals in smaller communities. People do make choices to reduce emissions in their daily lives, such as the energy they use and the buildings they live in. For most people, those decisions are influenced more by their local government than by national or international policies. In 2019, San Francisco, California, released an environmental plan to make city transportation 100 percent emissions-free by 2040. In 2021, the city of Seattle in Washington passed a law prohibiting natural gas pipes in all new buildings.

Filling in the gaps in climate goals

International, national, regional, and local climate goals do not operate separately. They don’t just trickle down from the higher levels to the local ones. By setting ambitious goals, local governments can push state and national governments. In turn, national governments can give different amounts of authority to state and local governments. Investment or experimenting with solutions at any level can affect climate goals, but they need to coordinate with each other for us to reach net zero.

Companies, nonprofit organizations, and trade associations also set goals. Through Architecture 2030, architects and other designers have created climate goals in the building industry. Their goal is to have all new buildings and major renovations at zero carbon by 2030. This goal guides their investments and influences their work with lawmakers. The success of climate policies at all levels relies on the actions of these businesses and industries.

We need climate goals. They guide and coordinate climate action. Still, climate goals will look different across the world. Every country and region has its own context, history, community, resources, and geography. Therefore, every country and region will have a different approach to climate change and a different set of solutions. Together, that is how we overcome the challenges of climate change.

1 National Climate Task Force, The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/climate/#:~:text=Reducing%20U.S.%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions,pollution%2Dfree%20electricity%20by%202035