The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty aimed at addressing the issue of climate change.
Purpose: The UNFCCC was established in 1992 to address the growing global concern about the impacts of human activities on the Earth’s climate. It provides a framework for international cooperation to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Parties: The treaty has been ratified by almost all countries, known as “Parties” to the convention. These Parties meet regularly to discuss and negotiate climate-related issues.
Key Principles:
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR): Recognizes that developed and developing countries have different historical contributions to climate change and thus different responsibilities in addressing it.
Precautionary Principle: Calls for taking preventive action in the face of scientific uncertainty to avoid potentially serious or irreversible damage.
Meetings and Agreements:
Conference of the Parties (COP): The highest decision-making body, where Parties meet annually to review progress and negotiate agreements.
Kyoto Protocol: An extension of the UNFCCC, it established binding emission reduction targets for developed countries for the period 2008–2012.
Paris Agreement: Adopted in 2015, it aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Countries submit voluntary nationally determined contributions (NDCs) outlining their climate actions.
Objectives:
Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming.
Adaptation: Helping countries cope with the effects of climate change that are already occurring.
Finance: Providing financial support from developed to developing countries for climate-related projects.
Technology Transfer: Sharing environmentally-friendly technologies with developing countries.
Capacity Building: Enhancing the ability of countries to address climate change.
Till date 27 COPs have happened. Important ones along with Agreements and Protocols are mentioned below:
1. COP3 (Kyoto, 1997): The Kyoto Protocol was adopted, outlining legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries. It marked a significant step in global efforts to combat climate change.
2. COP15 (Copenhagen, 2009): Highly anticipated, it aimed to produce a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. The meeting resulted in the Copenhagen Accord, a non-binding agreement outlining targets and pledges by both developed and developing countries.
3. COP21 (Paris, 2015): The Paris Agreement was adopted, with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. Countries submitted voluntary nationally determined contributions (NDCs) outlining their climate actions.
4. COP22 (Marrakech, 2016): This meeting focused on operationalizing the Paris Agreement and translating commitments into action. It emphasized the need for enhanced climate finance and capacity building.
5. COP24 (Katowice, 2018): The Katowice Rulebook was adopted, providing detailed guidelines for implementing the Paris Agreement. It addressed issues like transparency, reporting, and global stocktaking.
6. COP25 (Madrid, 2019): The meeting focused on finalizing outstanding issues from COP24. However, it faced challenges in reaching consensus on key matters, leading to criticism for perceived lack of progress.
7. COP26 (Glasgow, 2021): A significant meeting that aimed to ramp up global climate ambition. Countries discussed updated NDCs and long-term strategies to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Agreements were made on various issues, including deforestation, methane reduction, and finance.
8. COP27(Sharm-el-Sheikh): Focus was on providing financing for developing world and implementing the earlier resolutions.