Defining a ‘Paris Test’ of national contribution to global climate mitigation: the Irish exemplar

Abstract

Abstract It is commonplace to see political assertions that this or that national climate mitigation plan is “aligned” with the Paris Agreement. It is much less common to see this supported by transparent quantitative analysis, grounded in explicit provision for global climate justice. One interesting exception is the case of Ireland. In this Perspective, we briefly describe, and also critique, this exemplar case of a transparent national “Paris Test” of domestic mitigation ambition. We also comment on the opportunity for generalisation to other Paris Agreement Parties and consider critically what follows. We urge all good faith parties to the Agreement to adopt the genuinely emergency scale responses that are now so manifestly required to meet its laudable - but so far largely aspirational - objectives.