How We Can Still Meet the Paris Climate Goals

In 2015, almost every country on Earth signed the Paris Agreement, promising to limit global warming to well below 2°C — ideally 1.5°C.
That number might seem small, but it marks the difference between a manageable future and one filled with devastating floods, fires, and food shortages.

So how do we get there? The answer isn’t one big breakthrough — it’s a series of connected actions that together reshape how the world produces energy, builds industries, and uses resources.
Here are the most critical levers we can pull — as nations, companies, and individuals — to make the Paris goals a reality.

The biggest lever is clear: we must stop burning fossil fuels and replace them with renewable energy.
Solar panels, wind turbines, and hydro plants are becoming cheaper and more efficient every year. Governments and investors can accelerate the transition by:

• Ending subsidies for coal, oil, and gas.
• Expanding solar and wind farms.
• Modernizing power grids so clean electricity reaches everyone.

Every household that installs rooftop solar or chooses a renewable electricity plan plays a small but powerful part in this shift.

Industries that make cement, steel, and chemicals produce a large share of global emissions.
We can change that by:

• Using low-carbon technologies and recycled materials.
• Capturing CO₂ from factories before it escapes into the atmosphere.
• Designing a circular economy, where waste becomes a raw material for something new.

Transportation accounts for about a quarter of global emissions.
Switching to electric vehicles, public transit, and bike-friendly cities can drastically reduce that number.
Airlines and shipping companies can also contribute by investing in cleaner fuels such as green hydrogen and biofuels.

Forests, wetlands, and oceans are the planet’s most effective carbon absorbers — but they need protection.
We can:

• Stop deforestation and restore damaged ecosystems.
• Support sustainable farming that reduces methane and improves soil health.
• Invest in nature-based carbon removal, which is often cheaper and safer than high-tech alternatives.

To reach net-zero, we need to invest trillions in climate solutions and divest from pollution.
That means:

• Redirecting pension funds and portfolios away from fossil fuels.
• Ensuring governments fulfill their promise to fund climate action in developing countries.
• Expanding carbon pricing and green tax incentives to make clean options more affordable.

The Paris Agreement only works if countries keep raising their ambition every few years and hold themselves accountable.
Strong policies, transparent reporting, and international collaboration help ensure progress stays on track.

Every choice matters.
Eating more plant-based foods, wasting less energy, and supporting responsible companies all send market signals that drive systemic change.
When millions of people act together, demand can change faster than policy.

Meeting the Paris goals isn’t just about cutting emissions — it’s about building a smarter, fairer, and cleaner world.
The tools already exist. What we need now is the will to use them, together.

Cezhan Ambrose, DBA, is a Post-Doctoral Research Scholar at Pepperdine University. His work examines how corporate governance and capital markets can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. He writes on the intersection of corporate sustainability, sustainable investing, stakeholder salience, and systems dynamics.