On December 12, 2015, representatives from nearly every country met in Paris, France. They had a new sense of hope. After decades of discussion, governments had agreed on a set of international climate goals. They are in the Paris Climate Agreement. It is 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 come together at the Conference of the Parties or COP. It is the United Nations Conference on Climate Change and the group responsible for creating the Paris Agreement. It reviews the latest science and progress toward goals. Worldwide, these goals guide countries’ laws and influence local governments. They have also influenced corporations. Some corporations have changed how they do business 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 impacts of climate change. Most climate goals have a time goal. They often include language like “get to net zero by 2050.” The timing of a goal 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 goal setting, and this is especially true with climate change. A few years can mean a big difference for many people.

International pacts like the Paris Agreement help countries move toward action. However, one of the biggest criticisms is that they have limited power. International bodies such as the United Nations cannot enforce policies directly. They rely on voluntary cooperation from countries in the UN. But what happens when countries don’t meet their commitments? Other countries can refuse trade or partnerships with them. The United Nations and other countries also impose social pressure during climate meetings. Beyond this, there is little to be done to ensure accountability.

The Paris Agreement sets out international goals. How to achieve emissions reduction is left to each country. National governments have a right to create and manage policies. Each country can 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.

Countries create national climate goals that affect all levels of their government. The powers of state and local governments depend on the country’s government.

Exploring climate goals in the United States

The United States federal government has power over activities that cross state borders. They include national transportation infrastructure, electricity transmission, and air and water pollution. Therefore, it has the power to make rules for car manufacturing and sales. It can make policies for electricity transmission standards and pollution amounts. It can support climate-friendly industries like clean energy. It can invest in research and development for better building materials. The national government sets policies that trickle down to regional and local governments.

Changes to which lawmakers are in the federal government can affect the country’s climate goals. Elections are an important part of a democracy. But changes to who is in power can mean changes to climate-change policy. Inconsistent approaches result in slower progress. Many businesses are hesitant to commit to targets 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 That goal could change depending on who wins the next election.

State governments also regulate electricity generation. They can require electric companies to invest in renewable energy. State governments can plan infrastructure and public works projects and choose low-carbon building materials for these projects.

Local governments are those at the county or city level. They play a role in addressing climate change. They can design climate strategies specific to the needs of their local economy and environment.

They can also 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 their communities. For most people, the choices they have to reduce emissions in their daily lives are influenced more by their local government than by national 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 that prohibits natural gas pipes in all new buildings.

Filling in the gaps in climate goals

International, national, regional, and local climate goals do not operate independently. They also don’t just trickle down from the higher levels to local ones. Local governments can set their own ambitious goals. National governments can give different amounts of authority to state and local governments. Investment or experimentation with solutions at any level can influence climate goals, too. But these levels need to coordinate with each other for us to get to net zero.

Individual companies, nonprofit organizations, and trade associations also set goals. Through Architecture 2030, architects and other designers create climate goals in the building industry. They aim to have all new buildings and major renovations at zero carbon by 2030. This goal guides their investment. It also influences their work with policymakers. The success of climate policies at all levels relies heavily 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 history, community, resources, and geography. Therefore, every country and region will have a different approach to climate change with 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