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You are here: Laws and treaties Contains: Multilateral Environmental Agreements Contains:

Framework Convention on Climate Change

One of the conventions agreed at the 1992 Earth Summit, the 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) develops a global response to stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

The primary objective of the FCCC is:

to achieve stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

FCCC commitments made by New Zealand along with other developed country parties (referred to as Annex I Parties) include:

  • adopt national policies to mitigate climate change through limiting anthropogenic (human-induced) emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting and enhancing our greenhouse gas sinks and reservoirs
  • report detailed information on greenhouse gas inventories, national actions and projected human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and removal by sinks, according to timeframes set in the FCCC
  • take into account climate change considerations, in relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions
  • promote, and cooperate in, relevant scientific and technological research and exchange information in such areas (including transferring technology to developing countries)
  • provide additional financial resources to meet the agreed full costs incurred by developing countries in complying with their obligations under the FCCC
  • promote public awareness of, and education about, climate change issues.

For more information, see the New Zealand’s climate change programme.