GC: n
CT: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty (also known as a multilateral environmental agreement) that was opened for signature at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and came into force in 1994.
The ultimate objective of the Convention is to “stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.” It states that “such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened, and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.“ 194 countries signed the UNFCCC showing near universal agreement that there is a problem and that action is required against climate change.
The treaty itself is not legally binding as it does not set mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries and doesn’t contain any enforcement mechanisms.
S: https://www.wmo.int/pages/themes/climate/international_unfccc.php (last access: 13 December 2015)
N: 1. Abbreviations: UNFCCC, FCCC.
2. The Convention on Climate Change sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.
3. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The Convention enjoys near universal membership. Latest information on ratifications of the Convention can be found here.
Under the Convention, governments:
- gather and share information on greenhouse gas emissions, national policies and best practices;
- launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts, including the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries;
- cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change
The Convention entered into force on 21 March 1994.
S: 1. IATE (last access: 13 December 2015). 2 & 3. http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/items/2627.php (last access: 13 December 2015).
SYN: Convention on Climate Change
S: http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/items/2627.php (last access: 13 December 2015)
CR: climate change, Conference of the Parties, Kyoto Protocol.
