United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

28 Apr 15

marcelo Oliva

"common but differentiated responsibilities"
developed country Parties should "take the lead"
All Annex I Parties, excluding the US, have participated in the 1st Kyoto commitment period. 37 Annex I countries and the EU have agreed to second-round Kyoto targets. These countries are Australia, all members of the European Union
Japan, New Zealand, and Russia have participated in Kyoto's first-round but have not taken on new targets in the second commitment period
Australia^[a]

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18 Feb 15

babuprasanth

Science

he United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty (currently the only international climate policy venue with broad legitimacy, due in part to its virtually universal membership)^[2] negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system".^[3]

The treaty itself set no binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms. In that sense, the treaty is considered legally non-binding. Instead, the treaty provides a framework for negotiating specific international treaties (called "protocols") that may set binding limits on greenhouse gases.

The UNFCCC was opened for signature on 9 May 1992, after an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee produced the text of the Framework Convention as a report following its meeting in New York from 30 April to 9 May 1992. It entered into force on 21 March 1994. As of March 2014, UNFCCC has 196 parties.

The parties to the convention have met annually from 1995 in Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was concluded and established legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.^[4] The 2010 Cancún agreements state that future global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial level.^[5] The 20th COP took place in Peru in 2014.

24 Jan 15

Abhishek Singh

the Earth Summit
The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
The treaty itself set no binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms
the treaty is considered legally non-binding
Instead, the treaty provides a framework for negotiating specific international treaties (called "protocols") that may set binding limits on greenhouse gases
One of the first tasks set by the UNFCCC was for signatory nations to establish national greenhouse gas inventories of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals, which were used to create the 1990 benchmark levels for accession of Annex I countries to the Kyoto Protocol and for the commitment of those countries to GHG reductions
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol sets emissions targets for developed countries which are binding under international law
The Kyoto Protocol has had two commitment periods, the first of which lasts from 2005-2012, and the second 2012-2020
The Kyoto Protocol has been ratified by all the other Annex I Parties
37 Annex I countries and the EU have agreed to second-round Kyoto targets
Bali Action Plan
all developed country Parties have agreed to "quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives, while ensuring the comparability of efforts among them, taking into account differences in their national circumstances
Copenhagen and Cancún
the Copenhagen Accord
The Accord states that global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F)
This may be strengthened in 2015 with a target to limit warming to below 1.5 °C
According to the UNFCCC, these targets are relative to pre-industrial temperatures
The Accord was not formally adopted by the Conference of the Parties. Instead, the COP "took note of the Copenhagen Accord."
As part of the Accord, 17 developed country Parties and the EU-27 have submitted mitigation targets,^[23] as have 45 developing country Parties.^[24] Some developing country Parties have noted the need for international support in their plans
Many aspects of the Copenhagen Accord were brought into the formal UNFCCC process as part of the Cancún agreements
The agreement states that global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial level
As part of the Cancún agreements, developed and developing countries have submitted mitigation plans to the UNFCCC.^[27]^[28] These plans are compiled with those made as part of the Bali Action Plan
Durban and Doha
"Durban Platform for Enhanced Action"
As part of the Durban Platform, parties have agreed to "develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties"
development needs of developing country parties were reiterated
social and economic development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of developing country Parties
and that a low-emission development strategy is central to sustainable development
and that the share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow to meet their social and development needs
Annex II Parties are required to provide financial and technical support to the EITs and developing countries to assist them in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (climate change mitigation) and manage the impacts of climate change (climate change adaptation)
Parties listed in Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol are Annex I Parties with first- or second-round Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions targets
As part of the 2012 Doha climate change talks, an amendment to Annex B was agreed upon containing with a list of Annex I Parties who have second-round Kyoto targets, which apply from 2013–2020.^[56] The amendments have not entered into force
Parties to the UNFCCC not listed in Annex I of the Convention are mostly low-income^[57] developing countries

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28 Dec 14

ankurakg

nited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty (currently the only international climate policy venue with broad legitimacy, due in part to its virtually universal membership)^[2] negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), infor

15 Dec 14

yogeshnaik

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
common but differentiated responsibilities
Article 3(1) of the Convention
act to protect the climate system

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26 Nov 14

utsavshukladel

Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine have stated that they may withdraw from the Protocol or not put into legal force the Amendment with second round targets.

16 Sep 14

aneeshmm

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
In that sense, the treaty is considered legally non-binding. Instead, the treaty provides a framework for negotiating specific international treaties (called "protocols") that may set binding limits on greenhouse gases.
ntered into force on 21 March 1994. As of March 2014, UNFCCC has 196 parties.
997, the Kyoto Protocol was concluded and established legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
The 2010 Cancún agreements state that future global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial level.^[4
Convention^[6] states that Parties should act to protect the climate system on the basis of "common but differentiated responsibilities", and that developed country Parties should "take the lead" in addressing climate change
The Framework Convention specifies the aim of developed (Annex I) Parties stabilizing their greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide and other anthropogenic greenhouse gases not regulated under the Montreal Protocol) at 1990 levels, by the year 2000.^[
At the 1st Conference of the Parties (COP-1), Parties decided that the aim of Annex I Parties stabilizing their emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000 was "not adequate",^[10] and further discussions at later conferences led to the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol sets emissions targets for developed countries which are binding under international law.
The Kyoto Protocol has had two commitment periods, the first of which lasts from 2005-2012, and the second 2012-2020. The US has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol has been ratified by all the other Annex I Parties.
As of 2014, the UNFCC has 196 parties including all United Nations member states,
There are 43 Parties to the UNFCCC listed in Annex I of the Convention, including the European Union.^[53] These Parties are classified as industrialized (developed) countries and "economies in transition" (EITs)
Annex I:
Annex II: There are 24 Parties to the UNFCCC listed in Annex II of the Convention, including the European Union.^[56] These Parties are made up of members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Annex II Parties are required to provide financial and technical support to the EITs and developing countries to assist them in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (climate change mitigation) and manage the impacts of climate change (climate change adaptation).
Non-Annex I: Parties to the UNFCCC not listed in Annex I of the Convention are mostly low-income^[58] developing countries.^[54] Developing countries may volunteer to become Annex I countries when they are sufficiently developed.
Conferences of the Parties
The United Nations Climate Change Conference are yearly conferences held in the framework of the UNFCC. They serve as the formal meeting of the UNFCC Parties (Conferences of the Parties) (COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change, and beginning in the mid-1990s, to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol to establish legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Criticisms of the UNFCCC Process
The overall umbrella and processes of the UNFCCC and the adopted Kyoto Protocol have been criticized by some as not having achieved its stated goals of reducing the emission of carbon dioxide (the primary culprit blamed for rising global temperatures of the 21st century)
Both the US and Canada are looking at Voluntary Emissions Reduction schemes that they can implement internally to curb carbon dioxide emissions outside the Kyoto Protocol.^[65]

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13 Aug 14

fbexam17

greenhouse gas concentrations

28 Jul 14

niteshg5

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate
The treaty itself set no binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms. In that sense, the treaty is considered legally non-binding. Instead, the treaty provides a framework for negotiating specific international treaties (called "protocols") that may set binding limits on greenhouse gases
, the Kyoto Protocol was concluded and established legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.^[3] The 2010 Cancún agreements state that future global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial leve

1 more annotation...

03 May 14

rajubh

climate change

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992.
The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
The treaty itself set no binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms
Instead, the treaty provides a framework for negotiating specific international treaties (called "protocols") that may set binding limits on greenhouse gases.
As of March 2014, UNFCCC has 196 parties.
In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was concluded and established legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
The 2010 Cancún agreements state that future global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial leve
One of the first tasks set by the UNFCCC was for signatory nations to establish national greenhouse gas inventories of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals, which were used to create the 1990 benchmark levels for accession of Annex I countries to the Kyoto Protocol and for the commitment of those countries to GHG reductions
Article 3(1) of the Convention^[6] states that Parties should act to protect the climate system on the basis of "common but differentiated responsibilities", and that developed country Parties should "take the lead" in addressing climate change
Under Article 4, all Parties make general commitments to address climate change through, for example, climate change mitigation and adapting to the eventual impacts of climate change
Article 4(7) states:^[8]

The extent to which developing country Parties will effectively implement their commitments under the Convention will depend on the effective implementation by developed country Parties of their commitments under the Convention related to financial resources and transfer of technology and will take fully into account that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the developing country Parties.
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol sets emissions targets for developed countries which are binding under international law.

The Kyoto Protocol has had two commitment periods, the first of which lasts from 2005-2012, and the second 2012-2020
The US has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
Japan, New Zealand, and Russia have participated in Kyoto's first-round but have not taken on new targets in the second commitment period. Other developed countries without second-round targets are Canada (which withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2012)^[13] and the United States.
Bali Action Plan
As part of the Bali Action Plan, adopted in 2007, all developed country Parties have agreed to "quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives, while ensuring the comparability of efforts among them, taking into account differences in their national circumstances."^[
Developing country Parties agreed to "[nationally] appropriate mitigation actions [NAMAs] context of sustainable development, supported and enabled by technology, financing and capacity-building, in a measurable, reportable and verifiable manner.
As part of the 2009 Copenhagen negotiations, a number of countries produced the Copenhagen Accord.^[15] The Accord states that global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F).^[15] This may be strengthened in 2015 with a target to limit warming to below 1.5 °C.
The Cancún agreements were adopted by the COP in 2010.^[16] The agreement states that global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial level
n 2011, parties adopted the "Durban Platform for Enhanced Action".^[28] As part of the Durban Platform, parties have agreed to "develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties".^[28] This new treaty is due to be adopted at the 21st COP, and implemented in 2020.
At Durban^[30] and Doha,^[31] parties noted "with grave concern" that current efforts to hold global warming to below 2 or 1.5 °C relative to the pre-industrial level appear inadequate.
At Berlin^[32] Cancún^[33] and Durban,^[34] the development needs of developing country parties were reiterated.

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27 Apr 14

ashishpal

is an international environmental treaty
informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro
The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere
The treaty itself set no binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms.
In that sense, the treaty is considered legally non-binding. Instead, the treaty provides a framework for negotiating specific international treaties (called "protocols") that may set binding limits on greenhouse gases.
The US has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol has been ratified by all the other Annex I Parties.
37 Annex I countries and the EU have agreed to second-round Kyoto targets.
Japan, New Zealand, and Russia have participated in Kyoto's first-round but have not taken on new targets in the second commitment period.
Other developed countries without second-round targets are Canada (which withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2012)^[13] and the United States
There are 41 Parties to the UNFCCC listed in Annex I of the Convention. These Parties are classified as industrialized (developed) countries
There are 41 Parties to the UNFCCC listed in Annex I of the Convention. These Parties are classified as industrialized (developed) countries
and "economies in transition" (EITs). EITs are the former centrally-planned (Soviet) economies
The European Union-15 (EU-15) is an Annex I Party
There are 24 Parties to the UNFCCC listed in Annex II of the Convention
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Annex II Parties are required to provide financial and technical support to the EITs and developing countries to assist them in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions
Parties listed in Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol are Annex I Parties with first- or second-round Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions target
Least-developed countries (
Parties to the UNFCCC not listed in Annex I of the Convention are mostly low-income^[57] developing countries.^[53] Developing countries may volunteer to become Annex I countries when they are sufficiently developed.
Non-Annex I:

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07 Mar 13

sailor 6292

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992. The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."^[2]
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992. The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."^[2]

26 Nov 12

erimus

UNFCCC basics

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992. The objective of the treaty is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.^[1]

20 Nov 12

gthaberlach

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change with details and history

07 Apr 12

Avinash Kumar

UNFCCC

Annex II countries are a sub-group of the Annex I countries. They comprise the OECD members, excluding those that were economies in transition in 1992.
Developing countries may volunteer to become Annex I countries when they are sufficiently developed.
Qatar will be the host of COP 18 which will take place from 26 November to 7 December 2012.^[42]

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13 Dec 11

priyanka choudhary

parties adopted a 2-year "Plan of Action" to advance efforts and to devise mechanisms for implementing the Kyoto Protocol, to be completed by 2000
Denmark and Germany, rejected the compromise positions, and the talks in The Hague collapsed.
The date of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (August–September 2002) was put forward as a target to bring the Kyoto Protocol into force. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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27 Oct 11

ashvani kumar

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992. The objective of the treaty is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system

02 May 11

Dushyant Rajput

Climate Change United Nations

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992. The objective of the treaty is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.^[1]
Annex II countries are a sub-group of the Annex I countries. They comprise the OECD members, excluding those that were economies in transition in 1992.
The "flexibility" mechanisms which the United States had strongly favored when the Protocol was initially put together, including emissions trading; Joint Implementation (JI); and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) which allow industrialized countries to fund emissions reduction activities in developing countries as an alternative to domestic emission reductions.
It was agreed that credit would be granted for broad activities that absorb carbon from the atmosphere or store it, including forest and cropland management, and re-vegetation, with no over-all cap on the amount of credit that a country could claim for sinks activities.
Marrakech Accords
called for efforts by developed countries to transfer technology and minimize the impact of climate change on developing countries.
It was the first Meeting of the Parties (MOP-1) to the Kyoto Protocol since their initial meeting in Kyoto in 1997.
The event marked the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol
Agreement on a timeline and structured negotiation on the post-2012 framework (the end of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol) was achieved with the adoption of the Bali Action Plan (Decision 1/CP.13). The Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA)
The overall goal for the COP 15/MOP 5 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Denmark was to establish an ambitious global climate agreement for the period from 2012 when the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol expires