UNFCCCn

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system. Adopted in 1992, the UNFCCC is the first international treaty to address climate change and has been ratified by 197 parties. Its ultimate goal is to achieve a balance between the need to maintain a stable climate for the benefit of present and future generations of humans, and the necessity to continue economic and social development.

The UNFCCC operates through its subsidiary bodies, including the Conference of the Parties (COP), which meets annually to assess progress, negotiate, and adopt agreements. The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997, is a significant outcome of the UNFCCC, setting binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European Union to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, is another major milestone, aiming to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It also includes a mechanism for nations to enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) over time.

The UNFCCC's work is guided by the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, recognizing that developed countries have historically contributed more to climate change. It also emphasizes transparency, participation, and the need for technology transfer and capacity-building to support developing countries in their climate action efforts. The convention's transparency framework, established in 2001, requires parties to report on their climate actions and progress regularly.

The UNFCCC's secretariat, located in Bonn, Germany, supports the work of the convention and its parties. The convention's financial mechanism, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), aims to mobilize climate finance to support developing countries in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The UNFCCC's work continues to evolve, with ongoing negotiations and commitments aimed at achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and addressing the urgent challenge of climate change.