United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a global environmental treaty to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent harmful human-induced disruptions to the Earth’s climate system.
Often referred to as the Earth Summit, the Rio Summit, or the Rio Conference, this convention was officially ratified in 1992.
Every participating country is required to pledge its commitment to stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions within the framework of the UNFCCC.
The Conference of the Parties (COP), held annually, convenes representatives from all 197 parties to assess the progress in combating climate change.

Table of Contents

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is to “achieve and stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent harmful anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”
To attain this goal, it is essential that the objective is achieved within a timeframe that allows ecosystems to naturally adapt to climate change, safeguards food supply, and facilitates sustainable economic development.

Parties & their Classification

As of 2022, the UNFCCC has 197 parties, encompassing all United Nations members. Additionally, the Holy See and the State of Palestine participate as observers in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), along with Niue and the Cook Islands as UN non-member states, and the European Union as a supranational organization.

Classification of Parties:

Annex I: This category includes 43 parties, such as the European Union, characterized as “economies in transition” (EITs) and industrialized (developed) nations. The 14 EITs consist of the former centrally planned economies of Russia and Eastern Europe.
Annex II: Of the parties listed in Annex I, 24 are also part of Annex II, including the European Union. These parties comprise members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 1992, along with the EU and Turkey. Annex II parties are obligated to provide financial and technical support to EITs and developing nations for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Annex B: This category involves Annex I countries with Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas emission targets for either the first or second round.
Least-developed countries (LDCs): A total of 49 parties are designated as LDCs under the treaty due to their limited capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Non-Annex I: The majority of UNFCCC parties (58) fall into this category, representing low-income developing nations not listed in Annex I. Developing nations in this group can choose to join Annex I voluntarily once they achieve sufficient development.

CONFERENCE OF PARTIES

The COP, recognized as the “supreme body” of the Convention, holds the ultimate authority in making decisions related to climate change. The annual meetings of the COP serve as the focal point for global efforts to address climate change.

COP President and Bureau:

The role of COP President is rotated among the five regional organizations of the United Nations. Typically, the president is also the environment minister of a nation and is chosen by acclamation at the beginning of a COP session. Their responsibilities include facilitating the work of the COP and fostering agreements among Parties.

An elected Bureau oversees the activities of the COP and its subsidiary bodies. This Bureau plays a crucial role not only during sessions but also in maintaining continuity between sessions.

CRITICISMS

Challenges and Criticisms of Climate Agreements:

Non-inclusive: The Kyoto Protocol primarily overlooks small particles produced by car engines and combustion-based power plants, considered by most scientists as highly hazardous air pollutants.
Slow Progress: Convincing Russia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol was a prolonged process for the Conference of the Parties (COP).
Unsustainable Targets: Until 2005, the UNFCCC struggled to persuade the USA to adopt the Kyoto Protocol, preventing one of the world’s major greenhouse gas emitters from committing.
Unsatisfactory Response: Some nations, especially leaders of low-lying regions facing the threat of unaffordable sea level rises due to global warming, advocated for a more ambitious goal of limiting temperature increase to 1.5°C.
Financial Constraints: While the agreement calls for wealthy nations to maintain their $100 billion annual financing commitment until 2020, several Pacific island nations argue that this funding is insufficient.
Non-binding Agreement: The US’s withdrawal from the 2015 Paris climate agreement, citing potential economic impact and job losses, has heightened pressure on other countries to fulfill the agreement’s goals, with no established enforcement mechanism.
Unfulfilled Financial Commitments: The additional $2 billion pledged to the Green Climate Fund following the US departure has not been delivered.
No Enforcement Mechanism: The Paris Agreement relies on each nation independently determining, planning, and reporting its measures to reduce global warming. Non-compliance is addressed through a “name and shame” or “name and encourage” mechanism, lacking substantial enforcement measures.

UNFCCC AND INDIA

In 1993, India became a party to the UNFCCC, with the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) serving as its nodal agency.
As a developing nation, India is exempt from greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction commitments due to its relatively low emissions and limited financial and technological resources.
India has been a vocal advocate at the Convention for principles such as equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, and respect for capability. This stance is rooted in the belief that industrialized rich countries, with historical emissions, bear significant responsibility for the high levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientific analysis indicates that the US, China, and the EU are projected to contribute 50% of the global temperature increase by 2100, with the US, EU, and China accounting for 20%, 17%, and 12% of global emissions from 1850 to 2012, respectively. In contrast, India’s contribution during this period is only 5%.
A key concern is that developing nations and least-developed countries (LDCs) should prioritize poverty alleviation and other developmental efforts alongside environmental concerns. Therefore, these nations should have flexibility in assessing their capacity to combat climate change.
India actively engages in climate change mitigation due to its vulnerability to climate-related risks such as unpredictable monsoons, floods, droughts, and landslides. The National Environment Policy of 2006 emphasizes sustainable growth while respecting natural boundaries and social justice requirements.
The National Action Plan on Climate Change, introduced in 2008, outlines India’s commitment to various goals set at COP 21 (Paris Agreement) to be achieved by 2030. One such goal involves increasing forest and tree cover to create additional carbon sinks, aiming to sequester 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
India played a significant role in establishing the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Despite concerns about attempts to weaken the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) by rich nations, India reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the CBDR principle at the UN climate negotiations in Poland.

FAQs – UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change):

1. What is the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)?

A: The UNFCCC is a global environmental treaty established to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations, preventing harmful human-induced disruptions to the Earth’s climate system. Officially ratified in 1992, it is also known as the Earth Summit, Rio Summit, or Rio Conference.

2. What is the main objective of the UNFCCC?

A: The primary objective is to achieve and stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that prevents harmful anthropogenic interference with the climate system. This must be accomplished within a timeframe allowing ecosystems to adapt, ensuring food supply, and facilitating sustainable economic development.

3. How many parties are part of the UNFCCC, and who are they?

A: As of 2022, there are 197 parties to the UNFCCC, including all UN members, the Holy See, the State of Palestine, Niue, the Cook Islands, and the European Union.

4. How are parties classified under the UNFCCC?

A: Parties are classified into Annex I, Annex II, Annex B, Least-developed countries (LDCs), and Non-Annex I, each with distinct responsibilities and considerations for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

5. What is the Conference of the Parties (COP) in the UNFCCC?

A: The COP is the supreme body of the Convention, holding the ultimate authority in decision-making related to climate change. Its annual meetings, attended by representatives of all 197 parties, are central to global efforts against climate change.

6. How is the COP President selected, and what is their role?

A: The COP President is chosen by acclamation at the start of each session and is typically the environment minister of a nation. They facilitate COP’s work and foster agreements among parties.

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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – COP, Criticism – UPSC Environment Notes