The UNFCCC is a foundational treaty for the political response by States to address the climate crisis. It was adopted on 9 May 1992 and entered into force two years later. It was modified in 1997 with the addition of the Kyoto Protocol, which officially kick started carbon market mechanisms. The COP is UNFCCC’s supreme organ or authority.
Although its amendments and additions seek to establish more forceful and legally binding measures, the UNFCCC has not lived up to its expected efficacy or results, mainly due to corporate capture. Instead, it has become a negotiating space for blocking and delaying the urgent climate solutions we need.
Download the Climate Justice Glossary:
