International Conventions on Climate Change

Awareness of the effects of climate change has mobilized various political actions and initiatives like the creation of international policies that will help address the issue.

Currently, the primary international policy framework concerning climate change is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was signed in 1992 by 154 nations during the Earth Summit in Brazil.

This environmental treaty aims to “stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”

A copy of the convention is embedded below:

The treaty provides a framework for negotiating specific international treaties (called “protocols”) that would set mandatory emission limits.

A principal protocol is the Kyoto Protocol, signed by 192 parties in 1997 to establish internationally binding emission reduction targets mostly for economically developed countries.

The Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period was from 2008 to 2012, while the second commitment period runs from 2013 until 2020. – Rappler.com