United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change
The United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty that was created in 1992 to address the global challenge of climate change. The treaty was signed by 197 countries, including the United States, and has been ratified by 190 countries.
The main goal of the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. This is done by setting targets and guidelines for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as by promoting the use of renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.
One of the most significant outcomes of the UNFCCC was the creation of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The protocol set binding emission reduction targets for developed countries and created a market for trading carbon credits. Although the United States signed the protocol, it did not ratify it, and Canada withdrew from the protocol in 2012.
In 2015, the UNFCCC held its 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris, which resulted in the Paris Agreement. The agreement is a legally binding treaty that aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Parties to the agreement are required to regularly report on their emissions and progress towards their targets.
The Paris Agreement has been widely regarded as a significant achievement in international climate action, and has been ratified by 190 countries. However, the United States, under the Trump administration, announced its intention to withdraw from the agreement in 2017. The US officially withdrew from the accord on November 4, 2020, but President Joe Biden immediately rejoined upon taking office.
In conclusion, the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change has been instrumental in setting global targets and guidelines for addressing climate change. While progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. It is up to all countries to work together to reduce emissions and build a sustainable future.