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Climate framework convention

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

An international treaty established the foundation for continuing cooperation on climate change.

When
1992–1994
Where
United Nations and worldwide
Title page of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992.
Title page of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992.

An international treaty established the foundation for continuing cooperation on climate change.

01

Background

A global problem required coordinated institutions

Greenhouse gases accumulate across borders, while responsibility and exposure are uneven. The convention linked scientific concern with negotiations about development, resources and differentiated national obligations.[3]

02

What happened

  1. 9 May 1992

    Adoption before the Earth Summit

    The convention was adopted in New York and opened for signature at Rio in June. It entered into force in March 1994. These dates distinguish negotiation, signature and legal effect.[2]

03

Impact & evidence

The framework

Stabilisation and cooperation

Its objective concerned stabilising greenhouse-gas concentrations to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. Reporting, research, finance and regular meetings supplied a continuing process; the initial convention did not itself impose Kyoto-style numerical targets on all countries.[3]

1992

Science and development in the treaty

Article 2 connects stabilisation with allowing ecosystems to adapt, protecting food production and enabling sustainable economic development. The convention also established obligations to report emissions and measures taken. Its broad objectives created a negotiating framework within which later agreements could set more specific commitments.[4]

04

Aftermath & legacy

A platform for later agreements

Kyoto and Paris developed within this framework. The annual negotiations are a means of making and reviewing collective decisions, not evidence that the underlying problem has been solved. The convention's history includes continuing disputes over fairness, ambition and implementation.[3]

Sources & image credits (4)
  1. Wikipedia — United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ↗
  2. UN treaty collection: UNFCCC ↗
  3. UNFCCC: explanation of the convention ↗
  4. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: treaty text ↗

United Nations · United Nations treaty text Image source ↗

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