Global | 30 years after the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where do we stand?

Today, March 21, marks 30 years since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force. To mark the occasion, we take stock of the key events and actions that have shaped the international climate agenda.

Key points

• Key points:
• Although research on atmospheric dynamics and the role of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the increase in global temperature dates back to the second half of the 19th century, actions to address climate change were not taken until the end of the 20th century.
• The international environmental agenda began in the 1970s. A pivotal moment took place in 1992 with the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which led to the emergence of international agreements on biodiversity, deforestation, and climate change.
• The global climate agenda formally began with the entry into force of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994. This agreement resulted in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which set a precedent in the matter, although it had significant structural limitations.
• After a lengthy negotiation process, the Paris Agreement was opened for signature in 2015 within the umbrella of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement aims to limit the increase in the planet's temperature to no more than 2°C above pre-industrial era levels, with a preference for staying below a maximum of 1.5°C.
• According to the First Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement, presented at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, countries must move forward by establishing net zero emissions commitments, since, at the current rate, the increase in the planet's temperature is heading towards more than 2°C.

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