UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
The United States is a Party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and participates actively in ongoing negotiations under the UNFCCC. The U.S. signed the treaty in June 1992, and ratified it in October of that same year, becoming the first industrialized country and fourth nation overall to do so.
As one of its commitments under the UNFCCC, the U.S. produces an annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and sinks. EPA leads this effort on behalf of the U.S. government in collecting and verifying data from a number of other departments and agencies. In addition, with contributions from EPA and other federal agencies, the State Department coordinates and produces the periodic National Communication of the United States (“The Climate Action Report”), a reporting document that is required under the UNFCCC. In addition, the U.S. contributes substantial funding to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) , the financial mechanism under the UNFCCC. The funding supports technology transfer and capacity building in developing countries.