The UNFCCC, also known as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, establishes the fundamental legal framework and principles for global cooperation on addressing climate change. Its primary goal is to stabilize the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thereby preventing harmful human activities from interfering with the climate system.
In order to enhance the effectiveness of the UNFCCC established in 1992, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in December 1997. This protocol obligated industrialized nations and countries undergoing transition to a market economy to achieve specific targets for reducing emissions of six major greenhouse gases. The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol spanned from 2008 to 2012. Later, the Doha Amendment in 2012 established the second commitment period, covering the years from 2013 to 2020.
In December 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted by participating parties. It mandates all countries to determine, plan, and regularly report their individually determined contributions (NDCs) to mitigate climate change. Parties are also required to provide comprehensive updates on their progress in areas such as mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation. These updates are reviewed every five years through a process known as the Global Stocktake.
