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United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change

United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC),
entered into force 21 March
1994
and
The Kyoto Protocol,
adopted 11th December
1997

Camena Guneratne
Law Dept
Open University of Sri Lanka

and
entered into force 16th
February 2005

Definition of Climate Change in

the UNFCCC
A change of climate which is attributed
directly or indirectly to human activity
that alters the composition of the global
atmosphere and which is in addition to
natural climate variability observed over
comparable time periods.
(Article 1)

Climate change can be cited as the most

critical issue facing the global environment
today.
Since the late 1800s the earths average
temperature has been increasing at
unprecedented rates.
Even if the minimum predicted increase takes
place, it will be larger than any century-long
trend in the last 10,000 years

Causes of climate change

150 years of industrialisation, mainly the
burning of increasing quantities of oil,
gasoline, and coal, the cutting of forests, and
the practice of certain farming methods.
These activities have resulted in the increase
of greenhouse gases in the atmospheres,
particularly carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrous oxide.

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The crisis of climate change

Since the global temperature has no
barriers, the effects of climate change
are obviously widespread.
Actions that cause climate change have
repercussions far beyond the national
boundaries within which they take place
and include

Impacts of Climate change

a rise in sea levels,
extreme weather conditions such as
heat waves,
droughts,
floods, frosts and storms,
extinction of species and loss of
biodiversity including marine life,
glacial retreat.

Extinction of species

Polar bear

One of the most disturbing impacts of climate

change.
It is generally estimated that over one million
species are at risk of extinction due to climate
change.
A scientific study has predicted that one
quarter of land animals and plants, i.e. 15% to
37% of all species in the regions studied, will
be driven to extinction by climate change by
the mid 21st century. It notes that climate
change is now the biggest new extinction
threat.

Perhaps the most visible example of animals being

driven from their habitat due to climate change is
the polar bear.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
predicts that climate change in the polar regions
will be greater than anywhere else on Earth. Arctic
temperatures have risen by 5 C over the past 100
years, and the extent of the annual sea ice has
decreased by six per cent over the past 20 years.
The sea ice decrease over the next 50 years is
predicted to be 60 per cent.
About 60 per cent of the world's polar bears live in
Canada, the rest in Alaska, Russia, Norway and
Greenland

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There will be further ripple effects due to

the decline of polar bears since they are
the largest predators in the Artic, and
therefore changes in their numbers and
distribution could affect the entire Arctic
ecosystem.

Impact on plants
It is not only animal species that shift
upwards to higher altitudes due to
increased temperatures. This
phenomenon is also causing trees and
plants throughout the world to move to
polar regions and up mountain slopes.

Fish stocks
Fish are the largest source of wild protein for
humans, and for 2.6 billion people or 40
percent of the global population, fish makes
up a fifth of their protein intake.
Due to climate change fish will start migrating
north towards the North Pole. Scientists have
predicted that fish could move north 40
kilometres per decade.
Therefore tropical countries will suffer losses
of fish stocks.

Coral reefs
Species loss will also be experienced by
marine species. For example, coral reefs are
home to more than 25% of total marine
species, but one-third of the more than 700
species of reef-building corals are threatened
with extinction.

Impacts on humans
Rising temperatures will increase the
incidence of heat-related illnesses and death.
In 2003 heat waves caused 20,000 deaths in
Europe and 1,500 deaths in India.
Rising temperatures may also cause
increased spread of infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has
estimated that climate change may have
caused more than 150,000 deaths in the year
2000 alone, with an increase in deaths likely
in the future.

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Sea level rise

Rising sea levels will inundate low-lying areas
and islands, threaten dense coastal populations,
erode shorelines, damage property and destroy
ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands
that protect coasts against storms.
Rising sea levels will have devastating impacts
on humans since around 100 million people live
within three feet of sea level. Thus a rise in sea
levels could displace millions, particularly in
developing countries and small island states.

Global weather patterns

Will cause hurricanes and tropical
storms to become more intense, which
in turn will result in greater damage to
coastal ecosystems and communities.

Causes of climate change

Both natural and human induced.
Human induced causes have increased
and are now a major factor.
Human activities include burning of
coal, oil, and natural gas, deforestation
and various agricultural and industrial
activities and changing land use
patterns.

Agricultural patterns

Other causes

Intensification of agricultural activities is a

significant contributor to climate change.
Three agricultural activities contribute directly
to greenhouse gas emissions: cultivation of
flooded rice fields, enteric fermentation in
livestock, and use of nitrogenous fertilizers.

Destruction of forests and wetlands.

Scientists have estimated that deforestation
accounts for upto 25% of global emissions of
heat trapping gases, while transport and
industry account for 14% each and aviation
accounts for 3%.

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Politics of climate change

Industrialized countries are largely
responsible for emitting greenhouse
gases.
But it will be the developing countries
which will suffer the impacts of climate
change.

The issue of climate change has led to

the most visible and contentious North
South rift in international politics.
The debate centres around who is to
blame for the phenomenon and who
should bear the burden of addressing
the problem.

United Nations Development Programmes

Human Development Report 2007/2008, is
entitled Fighting Climate Change: Human
Solidarity in a Divided World.
The issue of inequality in regard to climate
change is a running theme throughout this
report.
The substance of the Report describes in
compelling terms the potential impacts of
climate change on poor people.

Developing countries refuse to obstruct their

development processes.
On the other hand, the U.S. insists that it will
not reduce emissions unless India and China
do so as well.
In 2001 the U.S. withdrew from the Kyoto
process on the grounds that it was unfair to
developed countries. Although Australia had
signed it in 1997, it subsequently refused to
ratify it.

UNFCC as a response
However, Australia subsequently ratified
the Kyoto Protocol in December 2007.
The contention is particularly in regard
to India and China.
China now believed to be the largest
emitter of greenhouse gases.

One of the major accomplishments of the

UNFCCC is that it recognised the problem of
climate change in the first place, at a time
when there was less scientific evidence
pointing to this problem.
A significant feature of the UNFCCC is the
recognition of the differences between
developed and developing countries, both as
regards responsibility for climate change and
the possible impacts of climate change upon
them.

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Nature of the UNFCC

Framework convention with no enforcement
mechanisms.
No specific obligations for States.
generally requires States Parties to gather and
share information on greenhouse gas emissions,
national policies and best practices; launch national
strategies for addressing greenhouse gas
emissions and adapt to expected impacts, including
the provision of financial and technological support
to developing countries; and to cooperate in
preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate
change

Kyoto Protocol
Specific obligations found in the Kyoto Protocol.
Protocol commits industrialised countries to
stabilise greenhouse gas emissions.
Major feature is that it sets binding targets for
37 industrialized countries and the European
community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions. These amount to an average of five
per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year
period 2008-2012.

The greenhouse gases include carbon

dioxide as well as Methane (CH4), Nitrous
oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur
hexafluoride (SF6).
The countries required to cut emissions are
specified in Annex B of the Protocol.
The detailed rules for the implementation of
the Kyoto Protocol were adopted at the 7th
Conference of the Parties in Marrakesh in
2001 and are known as the Marrakesh
Accords.

Mechanism to meet targets

States Parties must meet their targets
by way of national mechanisms.
The countries required to cut emissions
are specified in Annex B of the Protocol.
In addition, the Kyoto Protocol has
provided three additional mechanisms
for meeting the necessary targets.

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Additional mechanisms
(a)
Emissions trading (Article 17)
Emissions trading, as set out in Article
17 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows
countries that have emission units to
spare - emissions permitted them but
not "used" - to sell this excess capacity
to countries that are over their targets.
Known as the carbon market.

(b)

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

allows a country with an emission-reduction or
emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto
Protocol (Annex B Party) to implement an
emission-reduction project in developing
countries. Such projects can earn saleable
certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each
equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be
counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.

(c)
A CDM project activity might involve, for
example, a rural electrification project
using solar panels or the installation of
more energy-efficient boilers.

Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC)
Established by the World Metorological
Organisation and UNEP in 1988.
A scientific inter-governmental
organisation.

Clean development mechanism

(CDM) (Article 12)

Joint implementation (JI)

(Article 6)

This allows a country with an emission reduction

or limitation commitment under the Kyoto
Protocol (Annex B Party) to earn emission
reduction units (ERUs) from an emissionreduction or emission removal project in another
Annex B Party, each equivalent to one tonne of
CO2, which can be counted towards meeting its
Kyoto target.

Role of the IPPC

to assess on a comprehensive, objective,
open and transparent basis the scientific,
technical and socio-economic information
relevant to understanding the scientific basis
of risk of human-induced climate change, its
potential impacts and options for adaptation
and mitigation. Review by experts and
governments is an essential part of the IPCC
process. The Panel does not conduct new
research, monitor climate-related data or
recommend policies. It is open to all member
countries of WMO and UNEP.

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The IPCC issued its first report in 1990, which

was based upon the views of 400 scientists.
It warned that global warming was a real problem
and urged countries to address the issue.
The findings of the Panel was a significant factor
in the creation of the UNFCCC.
The IPCC provides regular reports on climate
change and its first report played a decisive role in
the negotiations of the UNFCCC, while its second
report provided important inputs for the
negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol.

What now?
Kyoto Protocol was a significant step forward
in addressing the problem of climate change.
Opinion is divided as to what it actually
achieved.
Obligations under the Kyoto Protocol ended
in 2012.
Without the participation of the U.S., the
worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases,
the impact of remedial measures will be
considerably less.
U.S. now participating.

The final document which was agreed to by the

U.S. contains the following points.
It does not specify any clear emissions goal, nor does
it identify which countries should reduce emissions or
to what extent.
The key issues to be addressed in future negotiations
are taking action to adapt to the negative
consequences of climate change, such as droughts
and floods; devising ways to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions; finding ways to deploy climate-friendly
technology; and financing adaptation and mitigation
measures. Other issues include combating
deforestation in poor countries, enhancing investment
in green technology and increased funding for
adaptation measures.

IPCC 5th Assessment Report

2014

CoP 13 - Bali,Indonesia
(2007)
Bali Roadmap agreed to in in Bali, Indonesia
in December 2007.
The Roadmap triggers a new round of
negotiations to curb greenhouse gas
emissions which must be finalised by end
2009. While the EU had proposed
commitments by industrialised nations for
cuts between 25-40% by 2020, this was
opposed by the U.S, Canada and Japan.

CoP 14 Poznan, Poland,

(2008)
No progress except for the finalisation
of the Adaption Fund to help developing
countries.
Again saw the divide between
developed and developing countries,
with the latter protesting the lack of
positive commitments on emissions
reduction from the former.

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CoP 15 - Copenhagen,
Denmark (2009)
No agreement reached.
A recent report indicates that annual
carbon dioxide emissions from burning
fossil fuels and manufacturing cement
have grown 38 percent since 1992, from
6.1 billion tons of carbon to 8.5 billion
tons in 2007.

Researchers say that burning fossil

fuels and manufacturing cement - along
with deforestation -- are the most
important human-related sources of
carbon dioxide emissions to the
atmosphere.

CoP 16 - Cancun, Mexico

(2010)

Major emitters
The major source of such emissions has
shifted to countries such as India and China.
While the United States was the largest
emitter of CO2 in 1992, followed in order by
China, Russia, Japan and India, the most
recent estimates suggest that India passed
Japan in 2002, China became the largest
emitter in 2006, and India is poised to pass
Russia to become the third largest emitter,
probably this year.

More successful than previously.

Collective effort to reduce emissions
Encourage low carbon development plans
An Adaptation Framework, in order to
strengthen action on adaptation in developing
countries through international cooperation.

CoP 17 - Durban,South
Africa (2011)
A process for least developed countries
(LDCs) and other interested developing
countries to formulate and implement national
adaptation plans
Green Climate Fund intended to deploy
$100bn a year by 2020 to protect poor
nations against climate impacts and assist
them with low-carbon development.

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Outcomes of Durban

COP 18 2012 Doha, Qatar

Durban Platform for Enhanced Action - a set of

decisions that lay the ground for adopting a legal
agreement on climate change as soon as possible,
and no later than 2015.
Extended the Kyoto Protocol.
Parties who sign up to the Second Commitment
Period are committing to reduce emissions by at least
25%-40% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Launch of the Green Climate Fund

Continued with the issues of the Durban

Platform
In Doha, the rules for that second
commitment period of the Kyoto
Protocol were finally agreed upon,
allowing it to move forward for another
eight-year period (2013-2020).

Adaptation & Mitigation

COP 19 Warsaw, Poland

Mitigation An anthropogenic intervention

to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of
greenhouse gases. (IPCC)
Adaptation - refers to the ability of a system
to adjust to climate change (including climate
variability and extremes) to moderate
potential damage, to take advantage of
opportunities, or to cope with the
consequences.

new text for the Durban Platform for

Enhanced Action (ADP) that will form
the basis of negotiations going forward.
REDD+ program - covers guidelines
and provisions for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions from deforestation.

Buildings - UNEP website

Approximately one third of the worlds energy use takes
place inside buildings. This has earned the building
sector the dubious honor of being the Earths biggest
contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Whats more, the construction industry consumes
more than one third of the planets resources and
generates huge quantities of solid waste. Clearly, any
attempt to improve resource efficiency must take
buildings into account.

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