UNFCC

WHY IN NEWS?

PIB: COP28 being held in Dubai, UAE

ABOUT

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established an international environmental treaty to combat human actions that adversely affect the environment.

Where did it Originate?

• The UNFCCC, signed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development also known as the Earth Summit, the Rio Summit or the Rio Conference
• The UNFCCC entered into force on March 21, 1994.
• The Convention has near universal membership (197 Parties)
• Parties to the Convention have met annually from 1995 in Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to assess progress in dealing with climate change.

Objective

• According to Article 2, the Convention’s ultimate objective is “to achieve, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”
• Article 3(1) of the Convention states that Parties should act to protect the climate system on the basis of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities“, and that developed country Parties should “take the lead” in addressing climate change.
• Under Article 4, all Parties make general commitments to address climate change through, for example, climate change mitigation and adapting to the eventual impacts of climate change.

What are UNFCCC’s Institutional Arrangements?

The Conference of the Parties (COP)
Article 7.2 defines the COP as the “supreme body” of the Convention, as it is its highest decision-making authority. The climate change process revolves around the annual sessions of the COP.

COP President and Bureau

The office of the COP President normally rotates among the five United Nations regional groups. The President is usually the environment minister of his or her home country. S/he is elected by acclamation immediately after the opening of a COP session. Their role is to facilitate the work of the COP and promote agreements among Parties.

The work of the COP and each subsidiary body is guided by an elected Bureau. To ensure continuity, it serves not only during sessions, but between sessions as well.

Subsidiary Bodies (SBs)
The Convention establishes two permanent subsidiary bodies (SBs), namely the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), by Article 9, and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), by Article 10. These bodies advise the COP.

The SBSTA’s task is to provide the COP “with timely advice on scientific and technological matters relating to the Convention”.

The SBI’s task is to assist the COP “in the assessment and review of the effective implementation of the Convention”

The Secretariat
The secretariat, also known as the Climate Change Secretariat, services the COP, the SBs, the Bureau and other bodies established by the COP.