1 7 The Climate Change

Convention Regime
During recent years, scientists could collect data Means of Implementation
that demonstrates the increase of the average The Convention includes
world temperature and the quantity of provisions dealing with financial
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. support, access to and transfer

Review
The higher quantity of greenhouse gases traps technology as well as know-how
more radiation of the sun and causes the to assist developing country
greenhouse effect. The emissions already Parties in implementing their
commitments.
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accumulated persist for a long period and let
expect a further rise of temperature in the next
century. 6 Financial Mechanism
Institutional Arrangements The Convention’s financial mechanism

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The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the consists of the Global Environment Facility
governing body of the Convention and regularly (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
reviews the adequacy of the commitments. The and provides financial resources to support
International conferences on the phenomenon Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological developing countries.
of global warming where first held in 1980. The Advice (SBSTA), the Subsidiary Body for
various negative consequences of climate Implementation (SBI) and a Secretariat advice and
change were recognized by the UN Assembly as support the COP.
“a common concern of mankind“ in 1988. In
1990 the preparation of „an effective framework
convention on climate change“ was initiated by
the UNGA. Around the same time, the UNEP
5 9
Commitments
and the WMO established an independent Parties of the Convention are committed to Funds
scientific body called the IPCC that was awarded establish national inventories of emission and The Special Climate change Fund, the Least
the Nobel Peace Prize together with US sinks, formulate and implement policies to adapt to Developed Countries Fund and the Green
Vice-President AL Gore in 2007. climate change, sustainably manage ecosystems Climate Fund where established to support
and integrate the considerations in social, developing countries in adapting to climate
economic and environmental policies. In meeting change impacts, obtain clean technologies

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these commitments, Parties can take account of and limit the growth in their emissions.
their different starting points and are required to
submit periodic reports to monitor progress.
The negotiation process for the climate change
regime has proved to be one of the most
challenging in the history of Multilateral 4 10
Environmental Agreements (MEAs). Despite Objective and guiding principles
different positions of developing and developed The UNFCCC was adopted in 1992 and is the Compliance and Dispute Settlement
countries the public concern was strong central focus of global action on climate change. It Decisions made by the COP are reviewed and
enough to motivate political leaders to achieve is the Objective of the UNFCCC to stabilize analysed by the SBI for developing and
an international regime to address the problem. greenhouse gas concentrations and enable developed countries. In case of a dispute
Key to the successful negotiation an adoption of sustainable economic development. The between Parties concerning the
the UNFCCC was the principle of common but Convention is guided by principles that reflect the interpretation or application of the UNFCCC,
differentiated responsibilities and respective understanding of global environmental the Parties are to seek a settlement of the
capabilities as the bases for actions by states. responsibility. dispute through negotiation.