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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The United Nations General Assembly, in response to the First Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, convened a series of meetings that culminated in the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the ‘Earth Summit’ in Rio de Janeiro in May 1992. The UNFCCC took effect on 21 March 1994.

The long-term objective of the UNFCCC is to prevent “dangerous anthropogenic (man-made) interference with the climate system”.

The UNFCCC sets out broad principles for change and has set up a process through which governments can meet regularly.

Initiatives specifically related to the UNFCCC:

sharing of information by governments
regularly updating national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions and removals
submitting national communications to describe actions and progress
providing details on efforts to limit emissions
exploring a wide range of climate change policies and measures
using specific measures for major economic sectors.

All developed countries that ratified the UNFCCC agreed to non-binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000, but only a few countries made appreciable progress towards achieving their targets. The international community recognised that the UNFCCC alone was not enough to ensure greenhouse gas levels would be reduced to safe levels, and that more urgent action, with more powerful (and legally binding) measures was needed. Negotiations on a protocol, known as the Kyoto Protocol, began in 1995.

For more information visit the UNFCCC website.