The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty with the primary objective to stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent "dangerous" human interference with the climate system.
The UNFCCC (the "Convention") was adopted at the UN Headquarters, New York on May 9, 1992, and opened for signatures at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro Brazil (4-14 June 1992), and thereafter for a year at the UN Headquarters (from June 20,1992 to June,19 1993).
The Convention entered into force on 21 March 1994.
Currently, there are 198 Parties (197 States and 1 regional economic integration organization) to the UNFCCC, making it a truly global agreement on climate change and action.
India signed the UNFCCC in June 10,1992 and ratified it on November 1, 1993.
All Parties part of the UNFCCC agreed to be guided by the following principles.
- To protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, based on “equity” and in accordance with their “common but differentiated” responsibilities and respective capabilities.
- The developed country Parties would lead the effort.
- To fully consideration to the specific needs/circumstances of developing country Parties – particularly those vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, and those who would bear a disproportionate/abnormal burden under the Convention.
- To not use “lack of full scientific certainty” as a reason for postponing climate action, especially where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage.
- To delivery climate action in cost-effective manner so as to ensure global benefits at the lowest possible cost, taking into consideration the different socio-economic contexts.
- To implement policies/measures to protect the climate system that fit each Party’s specific situation as part of their national development plans en-route sustainable economic development.
- To cooperate and promote a supportive and open international economic system that would lead to sustainable economic growth and development in all Parties, particularly developing country.
The UNFCCC Secretariat is the key institution responsible for operationalization of the convention.
Established in 1992 when countries adopted the UNFCCC, it facilitates the intergovernmental climate change negotiations through a complex architecture of bodies that serve to advance the implementation of the UNFCCC Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
The secretariat organizes and supports between 2-4 negotiating sessions each year, including the Conference of the Parties (COP) held annually. It also organizes annual sessions of its subsidiary bodies.
The UNFCCC Secretariat also assists in analysis/review of climate change information reported by Parties as part of the UNFCCC Convention and its different protocols/agreements.
The secretariat was originally established in Geneva; however, was later moved to Bonn, Germany in 1996. The Secretariat staff come from over 100 countries and represent a blend of diverse cultures, gender and professional backgrounds.
The central mechanism used to implement and progress on UNFCCC is through the ‘Conference of Parties (COP)’, its supreme decision-making body.
The COP is composed of all the countries (parties) that have ratified the UNFCCC and meets annually to assess progress in dealing with climate change and negotiate further action. It reviews the ‘national communications and emissions inventories submitted by parties and assesses the effects of measures taken’. Any final text of a COP must be agreed by consensus among all parties.
The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in 1995. In total 28 COPs have been held since inception, with the last COP held in Dubai, UAE in 2023. The COP for 2024 will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
New Delhi, India had hosted COP8 in 2002.
Most popular COP include COP3 (1997, Kyoto Japan) that set binding emissions reduction targets for developed countries (The Kyoto Protocol) & COP21 (2015, Paris France) where Parties agreed to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels (The Paris Agreement). The UNFCCC is the parent treaty to 1997 Kyoto Protocol and 2015 Paris Agreement.
Engaging with UNFCCC, non-state actors & individuals
Non-state actors, such as businesses, cities, and civil society organizations & Individuals, can participate in the UNFCCC process through various channels, including attending COPs and contributing to national climate plans.
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