Final answer:
Large-scale international agreements on limiting carbon emissions can enable coordinated global action, increase renewable energy investment, and foster cooperation. However, they suffer from a lack of enforcement, economic disparities between countries, and a narrow focus on climate change rather than broader environmental issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The benefits of large-scale international agreements for limiting carbon emissions include the following:
Globally coordinated efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Increased investment in renewable energy and technological innovation.
- Strengthened international cooperation and commitment to addressing climate change.
The drawbacks of such agreements are:
Lack of enforcement mechanisms, making compliance voluntary.
- Economic disparities that can cause tension between low- and high-income countries.
- A focus on climate change that may not encompass broader environmental or sustainable growth issues.
Agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement have been put in place, with varying degrees of success. The Paris Agreement, for example, saw broad participation, including major emitters like China and the United States. However, political shifts such as the U.S. initially withdrawing from the agreement under President Trump highlighted challenges surrounding international consensus and commitment.