United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Title abbreviation

UNFCCC

Title (French)

Convention-cadre des Nations Unies sur les changements climatiques

Title (Spanish)

Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático

Title (Other)

Rahmenübereinkommen der Vereinten Nationen über Klimaänderungen

Place of adoption

New York

Depository

UN United Nations

Language

English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish

Entry into force

Mar 21, 1994

Subject

Air & atmosphere

Keyword

Climate change Intergenerational equity Technology transfer Data collection/reporting International organization Education Access-to-information Sustainable development Inventory Emissions EIA Research Dispute settlement Monitoring Precautionary principle Ozone layer Public participation

Abstract

Objectives: To regulate levels of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere, so as to avoid the occurrence of climate change on a level that would impede sustainable economic development, or compromise initiatives in food production. Summary of provisions: (a) Definitions of the basic terminology of the Convention, such as “climate change”, “climate system”, “emissions”, “greenhouse gases”, “reservoir”, “sink”, “source” (art. 1); (b) Principles to guide the Parties in their pursuit of the Convention’s objectives (art. 3). The Parties are to protect the climate system for present and future generations. Developing countries should be accorded appropriate assistance to enable them to fulfil the terms of the Convention. The Parties should work in cooperation, so as to obtain maximum benefit from initiatives in the control of the climate systems; (c) Commitments assumed under the Convention (art. 49. Parties are to prepare national inventories on greenhouse gas emissions, and on actions taken to remove them; formulate and implement programmes for the control of climate change; undertake cooperation in technology for the control of change in the climate system; incorporate suitable policies for the control of climate change in national plans; undertake education and training policies that will enhance public awareness in relation to climate change. The developed country Parties (and other Parties listed in annex I) commit themselves to take special measures to limit their anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, and to enhance the capacity of their sinks and reservoirs for the stabilization of such gases. The developed country Parties ( and other Parties listed in annex II) undertake to accord financial support to developing country Parties, enable the latter to comply with the terms of the Convention; (d) Cooperation by Parties in the establishment and promotion of networks and programmes of research into and systematic observation of climate change (art. 5); (e) Establishment of a Conference of Parties, to be the supreme body of the Convention and to oversee the implementation of the Convention (arts. 7,8,9 and 10); (f) Establishment of a financial mechanism, to provide resources on a grant or concessional basis, for the fulfilment of the objectives of the Convention (art. 11); (g) Procedure for the settlement of disputes (art. 14). (Source: UNEP Register of International Treaties and Other Agreements in the Field of the Environment, 2005)

Full text

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Website

unfccc.int
treaties.un.org

Online course

Introductory Course to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol

* [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature

References - Treaties

Enables

Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol

Treaty | Multilateral | Doha | Jan 2, 2013

Keyword: Climate change, Emissions, Data collection/reporting

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-159939)

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Treaty | Multilateral | Kyoto | Feb 4, 1998

Keyword: Access-to-information, Sustainable development, Clean development mechanism, Energy conservation/energy production, Ozone layer, Joint implementation, Precautionary principle, Public participation, Climate change, Intergenerational equity, International organization, Forest management/forest conservation, Inventory, EIA, Research, Capacity building, Monitoring, Dispute settlement, Data collection/reporting, Technology transfer, Education, Waste management, Emissions

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001269)

Cites

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

Treaty | Multilateral | Montreal | Sep 16, 1987

Keyword: Ozone layer

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000953)

Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

Treaty | Multilateral | Vienna | Mar 22, 1985

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000829)

Cited by

Paris Agreement

Treaty | Multilateral | Paris | Apr 26, 2016

Keyword: Climate change, Technology transfer, Human rights, Education, Public health, Access-to-information, Poverty, Sustainable development, Equity, Emissions, Early warning system/emergency intervention system, Risk assessment/management, Developing countries, Public participation, Indigenous peoples

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-160054)

Other references

Legislation

1 record related to this treaty. View legislation

Treaty decisions

679 decisions related to this treaty. View decisions

Literature

659 records related to this treaty. View literature

Jurisprudence

1 jurisprudence related to this treaty. View jurisprudence