What is UNFCCC

What is the UNFCCC?

The international political response to climate change began with the 1992 adoption of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which sets out the basic legal framework and principles for international climate change cooperation with the aim of stabilising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to avoid “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” To boost the effectiveness of the 1992 UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in December 1997. It committed industrialiszed countries and countries in transition to a market economy to achieve quantified emissions reduction targets. The Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period took place from 2008 to 2012. The 2012 Doha Amendment established the second commitment period from 2013 to 2020. In December 2015, parties adopted the Paris Agreement, which requires all parties to submit and regularly report on the nationally determined contribution (NDC) that each undertakes to reduce emissions and/or build resilience to climate change. Every five years, parties will conduct a “Global Stocktake” of their collective progress on mitigation, adaptation, and provision of support to developing countries. The 2021 Glasgow Climate Change Conference comprises of the 26th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UNFCCC, the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol, CMP 16), the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA3), as well as meetings of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation. The Glasgow Climate Change Conference was originally scheduled to take place in November 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.