UNFCCC -
U.N. 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change
U.N. 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change
From the 1992 climate convention text
1992 UN FCCC Article 2 Objective
1992 UN FCCC Article 2 Objective
The ultimate objective of this Convention and any related legal instruments that the Conference of the Parties may adopt is to achieve, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.
Why does Dangerous anthopogenic interfeence DAI as defined by the UNFCCC matter
DAI is defined as an atmospheric GHG concentration that would endanger or risk the sustainability of ecosystems, food productivity,and economies, with particular reference to the most climate change regions (that are listed) and populations.
Key UNFCCC provisions.
Strong legal language e.g. shall rather than should
Defining goals
4. The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in annex II shall also assist the developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects.
5. The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in annex II shall take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, the transfer of, or access to, environmentally sound technologies and know-how to other Parties, particularly developing country Parties, to enable them to implement the provisions of the Convention. In this process, the developed country Parties shall support the development and enhancement of endogenous capacities and technologies of developing country Parties.
Why does Dangerous anthopogenic interfeence DAI as defined by the UNFCCC matter
DAI is defined as an atmospheric GHG concentration that would endanger or risk the sustainability of ecosystems, food productivity,and economies, with particular reference to the most climate change regions (that are listed) and populations.
Key UNFCCC provisions.
Strong legal language e.g. shall rather than should
Defining goals
- Risk based (avoidance of danger)
- Precautionary principle
- Safe atmospheric GHG levels goal
- Differential nation responsibility for cumulative emissions
- Limit emissions first by Annex 1 industrialized most responsible nation Parties
- Rapid return of emissions to pre-1992
- Transfer of funds and technology to the most vulnerable
Article 4 Commitments
2a The developed country Parties in annex I commit themselves specifically
(a) Each of these Parties shall adopt national policies and take corresponding measures on the mitigation of climate change, by limiting its anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting and enhancing its greenhouse gas sinks and reservoirs. These policies and measures will demonstrate that developed countries are taking the lead in modifying longer-term trends in anthropogenic emissions consistent with the objective of the Convention, recognizing that the return by the end of the present decade to earlier levels of anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol would contribute to such modification
3. The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in annex II shall provide new and additional financial resources to meet the agreed full costs incurred by developing country Parties in complying with their obligations under Article 12 , paragraph 1. They shall also provide such financial resources, including for the transfer of technology, needed by the developing country Parties to meet the agreed full incremental costs of implementing measures that are covered by paragraph 1 of this Article and that are agreed between a developing country Party and the international entity or entities referred to in Article 11 , in accordance with that Article. The implementation of these commitments shall take into account the need for adequacy and predictability in the flow of funds and the importance of appropriate burden sharing among the developed country Parties.
(a) Each of these Parties shall adopt national policies and take corresponding measures on the mitigation of climate change, by limiting its anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting and enhancing its greenhouse gas sinks and reservoirs. These policies and measures will demonstrate that developed countries are taking the lead in modifying longer-term trends in anthropogenic emissions consistent with the objective of the Convention, recognizing that the return by the end of the present decade to earlier levels of anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol would contribute to such modification
3. The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in annex II shall provide new and additional financial resources to meet the agreed full costs incurred by developing country Parties in complying with their obligations under Article 12 , paragraph 1. They shall also provide such financial resources, including for the transfer of technology, needed by the developing country Parties to meet the agreed full incremental costs of implementing measures that are covered by paragraph 1 of this Article and that are agreed between a developing country Party and the international entity or entities referred to in Article 11 , in accordance with that Article. The implementation of these commitments shall take into account the need for adequacy and predictability in the flow of funds and the importance of appropriate burden sharing among the developed country Parties.
4. The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in annex II shall also assist the developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects.
5. The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in annex II shall take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, the transfer of, or access to, environmentally sound technologies and know-how to other Parties, particularly developing country Parties, to enable them to implement the provisions of the Convention. In this process, the developed country Parties shall support the development and enhancement of endogenous capacities and technologies of developing country Parties.
Under the UN 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change convention countries were required to avoid a climate emergency by not allowing atmospheric GHGs reaching dangerous levels. The term is "dangerous (anthropogenic) interference with the climate system" (DAI)
Paris Agreement
2024 global emissions are at record high and increasing
The Dec 2015 UN Paris Climate Conference. Agreement is not be legally allows national governments to carry on with individual policies and plans regarding climate change. In terms of the UN Convention it is a non agreement that flouts the terms of the Convention and keeps the world headed for planetary catastrophe.
One good thing is the Paris Agreement included the limit of 1.5°C
Article 2
2024 global emissions are at record high and increasing
The Dec 2015 UN Paris Climate Conference. Agreement is not be legally allows national governments to carry on with individual policies and plans regarding climate change. In terms of the UN Convention it is a non agreement that flouts the terms of the Convention and keeps the world headed for planetary catastrophe.
One good thing is the Paris Agreement included the limit of 1.5°C
Article 2
1. (a) Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below
2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature
increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would
significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.
Note language of 'holding' the increase in the global temperature. Most climate scientists claim the the Paris Agreement 1.5°C requires a long averaged period.
'The researchers stress that temperatures would have to stay at or above 1.5C for 20 years to be able to say the Paris agreement threshold had been passed'. BBC 17 May 2023
The Paris Agreement temperature goal is to be understood as human-made temperature change averaged over 20-30 years – (Climate Analytics 13 January 2023)
Note language of 'holding' the increase in the global temperature. Most climate scientists claim the the Paris Agreement 1.5°C requires a long averaged period.
'The researchers stress that temperatures would have to stay at or above 1.5C for 20 years to be able to say the Paris agreement threshold had been passed'. BBC 17 May 2023
The Paris Agreement temperature goal is to be understood as human-made temperature change averaged over 20-30 years – (Climate Analytics 13 January 2023)
Climate Emergency Institute
30 years of UN climate conferences-atmospheric CO2 increasing at an accelerating rate
Article 2 Objective 'stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened
and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.'
Article 4 Commitments All Parties...shall
1 (b) Formulate, implement, publish and regularly update national...programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change by addressing anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases
and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.'
Article 4 Commitments All Parties...shall
1 (b) Formulate, implement, publish and regularly update national...programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change by addressing anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases
The 2023 COP28 at Dubai (United Arab Emirates) outcome (Global Stocktake) was approval of the IPCC on emissions.
26. Recognizes the finding in the Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to peak between 2020 and at the latest before 2025 in global modelled pathways that limit warming to 1.5 °C and in those that limit warming to 2 °C and assume immediate action.
27. Also recognizes that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C requires sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions of 43 per
26. Recognizes the finding in the Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to peak between 2020 and at the latest before 2025 in global modelled pathways that limit warming to 1.5 °C and in those that limit warming to 2 °C and assume immediate action.
27. Also recognizes that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C requires sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions of 43 per
cent by 2030 and 60 per cent by 2035 relative to the 2019 level and reaching net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050
(h) Phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty
(h) Phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty
or just transitions, as soon as possible