Almost two decades ago, countries joined an international treaty, the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, to cooperatively consider what they could do to limit average global
temperature increases and the resulting climate change, and to cope with whatever impacts were, by
then, inevitable. This was in 1992.
By 1995, countries realized that emission reductions provisions in the Convention were inadequate.
They launched negotiations to strengthen the global response to climate change, and, two years later,
adopted the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol legally binds developed countries to emission
reduction targets. The Protocol’s first commitment period started in 2008 and ends in 2012.
The UNFCCC
secretariat supports all institutions involved in the international climate change negotiations,
particularly the Conference of the Parties (COP), the subsidiary bodies (which advise the COP), and
the COP Bureau (which deals mainly with procedural and organizational issues arising from the COP and
also has technical functions). For a brief depiction of how these various bodies are related to one
another, please see Convention Bodies.
What happens beyond 2012 is one of the key issues governments of the 195 Parties to the Convention
are currently negotiating. Climate change is a complex problem, which, although environmental in
nature, has consequences for all spheres of existence on our planet. It either impacts on-- or is
impacted by-- global issues, including poverty, economic development, population growth, sustainable
development and resource management. It is not surprising, then, that solutions come from all
disciplines and fields of research and development.
At the very heart of the response to climate change, however, lies the need to reduce
emissions. In 2010, governments agreed that emissions need to be reduced so that global temperature
increases are limited to below 2 degrees Celsius.
This time line detailing the international response to climate change provides a contextual entry
point to the Essential Background. You can also use the links on the left-hand column under Essential
Background to navigate this section.
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2011 — On the road to COP17 in Durban.
2010 — Cancun Agreements drafted and largely accepted by the COP, at COP16. In the Agreements,
countries formalized their Copenhagen pledges. More on the Cancun Agreements.
2009 — Copenhagen Accord drafted at COP15 in Copenhagen. This was taken note of by the
Conference of the Parties. Countries later submitted emissions reductions pledges or mitigation
action pledges, all non-binding.
2007 — IPCC’S Fourth Assessment Report released. Climate science entered into popular
consciousness. At COP13, Parties agreed on the Bali Road Map, which charted the way towards a
post-2012 outcome in two work streams: the AWG-KP, and another under the Convention, known as the
Ad-Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative
Action Under the Convention. More about the Bali Road Map.
2006 — The Nairobi Work Programme on Adaptation is accepted and agreed on. More about the Nairobi Work Programme.
2005 — Entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. The first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto
Protocol (MOP 1) takes place in Montreal. In accordance with Kyoto Protocol requirements, Parties
launched negotiations on the next phase of the KP under the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties
under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP).
2004 — Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures agreed on at COP
10.
2001 — Release of IPCC’s Third Assessment Report. Bonn Agreements adopted, based on the
Buenos Aires Plan of Action of 1998. Marrakesh Accords adopted at COP7, detailing rules for
implementation of Kyoto Protocol.
The
Marrakesh Accords.
1997 — Kyoto Protocol formally adopted in December at COP3. More about the Kyoto Protocol.
1996 — The UNFCCC Secretariat is set up to support action under the Convention. More on the Secretariat.
1995 — The first Conference of the Parties (COP 1) takes place in Berlin.
1994 — UNFCCC enters into force. An introduction to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change.
1992 — The INC adopts UNFCCC text. At the Earth Summit in Rio, the UNFCCC is opened for
signature along with its sister Rio Conventions, UNCBD and UNCCD. More about the two other Rio
Conventions: UNCBD and UNCCD.
1991 — First meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) takes place.
1990 — IPCC’s first assessment report released. IPCC and second World Climate Conference
call for a global treaty on climate change. United Nations General Assembly negotiations on a
framework convention begin.
1988 — The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is set up. More about the science of climate change.
1979 — The first World Climate Conference (WCC) takes place.
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