11.1 International climate agreements and negotiations
5 min read•august 16, 2024
Climate negotiations are a complex dance of global cooperation. From the UNFCCC to the , international efforts have evolved to address the urgent challenge of climate change. These agreements set emission targets, establish support mechanisms, and aim to limit global temperature rise.
However, challenges persist. Political, economic, and implementation hurdles complicate progress. Various stakeholders, from governments to NGOs and youth activists, shape the negotiations. The ongoing struggle is to balance national interests with the collective need for decisive climate action.
History of Climate Agreements
Early International Efforts
Top images from around the web for Early International Efforts
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat organizes conferences
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) provides scientific input
Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations
NGOs serve as observers and advocates in negotiations
Environmental groups push for stronger climate action (Greenpeace, WWF)
Think tanks provide policy analysis and recommendations
Indigenous peoples and local communities participate in negotiations
Bring traditional knowledge to discussions (Arctic Council's involvement of indigenous groups)
Highlight impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations
Private Sector and Scientific Community
Business and industry stakeholders influence negotiations
Showcase technological solutions (renewable energy companies)
Lobby for policies aligned with their interests (oil and gas industry representatives)
Scientific bodies provide crucial assessments
informs target-setting
National scientific academies contribute to national positions
Emerging Voices in Climate Diplomacy
Youth movements and climate activists pressure negotiators
School strikes for climate raise public awareness (Fridays for Future movement)
Youth delegates participate in official negotiations (YOUNGO constituency)
Subnational actors engage in parallel diplomacy
Cities and regions make their own climate commitments (C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group)
State and provincial governments influence national positions (California's climate leadership in the U.S.)
Key Terms to Review (25)
Adaptation Fund: The Adaptation Fund is a financial mechanism established to provide funding for projects and programs that help developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is particularly relevant in international climate agreements, where it supports nations most vulnerable to climate change effects by financing adaptation efforts. By channeling resources towards building resilience, the fund plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between climate finance and the actual needs of communities facing the brunt of climate change.
Al Gore: Al Gore is an American politician, environmental activist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate known for his advocacy on climate change and environmental issues. He served as the 45th Vice President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 and gained prominence for his documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth,' which raised awareness about global warming and its impacts. His efforts in promoting international climate agreements and effective communication strategies have made significant contributions to climate science awareness and engagement through media and social networks.
Ban Ki-moon: Ban Ki-moon is a South Korean diplomat who served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 2007 to December 2016. His tenure was marked by a strong focus on climate change and sustainable development, making him a pivotal figure in international climate agreements and negotiations.
Carbon markets: Carbon markets are trading systems that allow for the buying and selling of carbon credits, which represent a permit to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gases. These markets aim to provide economic incentives for reducing emissions, encouraging companies and countries to invest in cleaner technologies and practices. By establishing a price for carbon, these markets play a critical role in international climate agreements and negotiations aimed at combating climate change.
Carbon trading: Carbon trading is a market-based mechanism that allows countries and companies to buy and sell carbon credits in order to limit greenhouse gas emissions. By assigning a monetary value to carbon emissions, this system incentivizes reducing emissions and encourages investments in cleaner technologies, aligning with efforts to mitigate climate change. It plays a significant role in balancing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering international cooperation in emission reductions.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a flexible mechanism established under the Kyoto Protocol that allows developed countries to invest in greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in developing countries as a way to meet their own emission reduction targets. This mechanism promotes sustainable development by providing financial resources and technology transfer to developing nations while allowing industrialized countries to offset their emissions. It essentially links environmental goals with economic incentives, fostering international cooperation in the fight against climate change.
Climate finance: Climate finance refers to the financial resources allocated to support mitigation and adaptation efforts aimed at addressing climate change. This funding can come from public, private, and alternative sources, with a goal to help developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against climate impacts. Understanding climate finance is crucial for international climate agreements and negotiations, as it plays a significant role in enabling countries to meet their commitments and achieve sustainable development.
Climate mitigation: Climate mitigation refers to efforts aimed at reducing or preventing the emission of greenhouse gases, which are the primary drivers of climate change. By implementing strategies to lower emissions, increase energy efficiency, and shift towards renewable energy sources, climate mitigation seeks to limit the severity of global warming and its associated impacts. This approach is often central to international climate agreements and negotiations, as countries work collaboratively to set targets and share responsibilities in addressing climate change.
Climate Technology Centre and Network: The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is a global mechanism established to promote the accelerated development and transfer of climate technologies in developing countries. It aims to enhance the capacity of these nations to effectively address climate change through technology solutions, supporting them in meeting their commitments under international climate agreements and negotiations.
COP (Conference of the Parties): The COP, or Conference of the Parties, is a supreme decision-making body established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It brings together representatives from countries that are parties to the convention to negotiate and make decisions regarding international climate agreements and actions aimed at addressing climate change. Each COP meeting plays a critical role in shaping the global climate agenda, discussing progress made, and setting future goals for emission reductions and climate resilience.
Copenhagen Accord: The Copenhagen Accord is a political agreement reached during the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) held in Copenhagen, Denmark. It aimed to advance global climate action by encouraging countries to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing financial support for developing nations, and strengthening international cooperation to combat climate change.
Global warming potential: Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure that compares the ability of different greenhouse gases to trap heat in the atmosphere over a specific time period, typically 100 years, relative to carbon dioxide (CO2). This metric allows for a standardized way to assess the impact of various emissions on climate change and is essential for understanding radiative forcing, which is the change in energy balance in the Earth's atmosphere due to greenhouse gas emissions. GWP is also crucial for international climate agreements, as it helps countries set reduction targets and track progress towards limiting global warming.
Green Climate Fund: The Green Climate Fund is a global financing mechanism established to assist developing countries in their efforts to respond to climate change. It aims to promote the transfer of funds from developed countries to support mitigation and adaptation initiatives, enhancing resilience to climate impacts while fostering sustainable development. This fund plays a crucial role in international climate agreements, facilitating financial resources necessary for nations to meet their climate commitments.
Greenhouse gas emissions: Greenhouse gas emissions refer to the release of gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming. These emissions primarily come from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, leading to increased concentrations of gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Managing these emissions is critical for international efforts aimed at combating climate change and promoting sustainable energy solutions.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific body established by the United Nations to provide comprehensive assessments of climate change, its impacts, and potential adaptation and mitigation strategies. The IPCC plays a crucial role in synthesizing and communicating climate science to policymakers, fostering international cooperation through climate agreements, and enhancing public understanding and perception of climate-related issues.
Joint implementation (JI): Joint implementation (JI) is a mechanism under international climate agreements that allows countries to collaborate on projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This approach enables countries to invest in emission-reducing projects in other nations while earning credit towards their own emissions reduction targets. JI encourages international cooperation and technology transfer, making it a vital tool in global climate negotiations.
Kyoto Protocol: The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty adopted in 1997 that commits its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that global warming exists and human-made CO2 emissions have caused it. This treaty is a significant part of global efforts to combat climate change, emphasizing the need for mitigation and adaptation strategies among nations while highlighting the importance of international collaboration to tackle climate issues.
Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action: The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action is an initiative launched during the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco, aimed at fostering collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society to accelerate climate action. It seeks to enhance the implementation of the Paris Agreement by engaging non-state actors and promoting climate-resilient development strategies that complement national commitments. This partnership emphasizes the importance of collective efforts in combating climate change and mobilizing resources to achieve global climate goals.
National Adaptation Plans: National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) are strategic frameworks established by countries to address the impacts of climate change and enhance resilience in various sectors. These plans serve as a roadmap for nations to assess their vulnerabilities, prioritize actions, and allocate resources for effective adaptation measures. NAPs are crucial for implementing international climate agreements, as they help countries align their efforts with global goals and commitments.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are climate action plans that countries submit under the Paris Agreement, outlining their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. These contributions reflect each country's unique circumstances and capabilities, allowing for flexibility in how nations aim to meet global climate goals. NDCs play a critical role in international climate agreements by fostering accountability and transparency among nations as they work towards a collective effort to limit global warming.
Net-zero emissions: Net-zero emissions refer to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere, ultimately achieving a state where total emissions equal zero. This concept is crucial in international climate agreements as it sets a clear target for nations and organizations to reduce their carbon footprint and mitigate climate change impacts by transitioning to sustainable practices and technologies.
Paris Agreement: The Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty established in 2015 that aims to combat climate change and limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. It emphasizes the need for countries to set their own emission reduction targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), while promoting global cooperation and support for developing nations in their efforts to adapt to climate change and transition to low-carbon economies.
Rio Earth Summit: The Rio Earth Summit, officially known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), was a landmark conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It aimed to address global environmental issues and promote sustainable development by bringing together world leaders, non-governmental organizations, and various stakeholders to discuss environmental protection and economic growth.
Temperature target: A temperature target refers to a specific limit on global temperature rise that international agreements aim to achieve in order to mitigate climate change impacts. These targets are often expressed as the maximum allowable increase in average global temperature compared to pre-industrial levels, guiding policy decisions and actions by countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty aimed at addressing climate change by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Established in 1992, it provides a framework for global cooperation, setting the stage for various protocols and agreements that focus on both mitigation of climate change impacts and adaptation strategies to cope with its effects. The convention serves as a foundation for further negotiations and actions taken by countries to combat climate change collectively.