Christina Voigt and Xiang Gao, “Accountability in the Paris Agreement: The Interplay between Transparency and Compliance” (2020) 1 Nordic Environmental LJ.
Following the adoption and entry into force of the Paris Agreement, the “Climate Package”, adopted in Katowice in December 2018, is generally regarded as the “Rulebook” for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.2 The negotiations of the Agreement and the “Rulebook” were conducted on a theme-by-theme basis. However, the Paris Agreement can only be implemented as one holistic instrument. This article aims at identifying the inter-linkages of different parts of the package, especially between the procedural arrangements for enhancing transparency and for promoting compliance. Both aspects together establish the basis for Parties ́ accountability for their performance under the Paris Agreement. In this article, the authors start with the elaboration of accountability in the context of the Paris Agreement, followed by an in-depth analysis of the two accountability procedures; namely the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) and the modalities for the committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance (“Article 15 Committee”). The authors find that both procedures together function as an “accountability continuum”. In the end, they highlight some unresolved issues which could lead to uncertainties in implementation. They also provide suggestions for further academic research as well as for policy making.
Access for free online thanks to the Nordic Environmental Law Journal!