UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

The Convention on the web: http://www.unfccc.int

At UNCED in 1992, the "UN Framework Convention on Climate Change" (UNFCCC) that aims to "achieve … stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system" was signed by more than 180 governments. The UNFCCC promotes the principles of common but differentiated responsibility and precautionary action. Given the overall lack of willingness to take action, it can already be regarded as a success that climate change itself and its adverse effects were acknowledged as a common concern of humankind.

The Convention divides countries into two groups: those who are listed in Annex 1 of the Convention and those who are not (known as 'non-Annex 1 Parties'). Annex 1 Parties are the industrialised countries, who have historically contributed the most to climate change. For example, North America and the EU are jointly responsible for 85 per cent of the man-made carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today. The UNFCCC not only recognised the particular role the industrialised countries have in taking the lead in curbing global warming but also demands them to assist developing countries to averse the negative effects of climate change and to allow adaptation. Climate change is the most serious threat the world has to face over the next decades. Those who will suffer most are the poorest of the poor who cannot protect themselves from floods, droughts, spread of diseases and the like. Climate change also underlines an outstanding lack of equity: while an average citizen from the US produces about 20 tons of carbon dioxide, a person from India is responsible for just above one ton. It's the rich countries who are mainly responsible for climate change, but the poor will have to pay for it.

Accordingly, the FCCC called only on Annex-1 Parties to stabilise their greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000. This aim, which was not legally binding, was only fulfilled by three Parties in the EU, plus some countries in Central and Eastern Europe (whose emissions have fallen substantially due to the breakdown of economies after 1990, resulting in less industrial production).

The convention would set up a specific group to help in the transfer of funds and technology to assist nations in controlling greenhouse gases and dealing with climate change, for example the Global Environment Facility of the UNDP, the United Nations Environment Program and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Following the UN charter, the convention states that countries have the right to exploit their own resources, but also the responsibility to ensure that activities under their control do not cause damage to the environment beyond their borders (Stockholm: 1972). It then calls on the widest possible co-operation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate response to climate change, including laws and the protection of natural processes. However, '…On a person basis greenhouse gas emissions from developing countries are still relatively low. For these countries, the first and overriding priorities are economic and social development, and eradication of poverty. The developing nations' share of global emissions will grow as their economies expand and they use more energy (UN Convention on Climate Change: 1992).'

The FCCC entered into force on 21 March 1994 after ratification by 50 signatories and was ratified by 181 countries which are therefore called 'Parties to the Convention'. Parties meet regularly at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to review the implementation of the Convention and continue talks on how best to tackle climate change. The FCCC's status as a framework convention means that so-called protocols can be added to specify reduction targets or particular measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In 1997, the world's governments agreed the Kyoto Protocol [ text of the protocol ] . This was the long awaited supplement to the UNFCCC that fleshed out the vague wording of the Convention. How the Protocol's objectives are to be fulfilled, however, is still under negotiation.