INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE PROTECTION
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the first internationally ratified convention to determine and justify the issue of 'climatic change' as a mission and duty towards the community of states. At the world summit for environment and developement in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Convention on Climate Change was accepted and lawfully became effective in 1994. All signing states (currently 189 countries) have committed to developing national plans for the reduction of greenhouse gases. The Convention builds the structural core for the climate protection negotiations, which regularly take place as Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention on Climate Change.
The signing of the Kyoto Protocol for emission reduction on December 11th, 1997 in Japan, was highly appreciated by the international community of states, and must be viewed as another progressive milestone towards the challenge of 'climate change', as it stipulates judiciary and mandatory limits for greenhouse gas emissions.
- European flags in front of the Berlaymont building
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) whose conference took place in 1988 (headquarters Geneva - Switzerland), was founded through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Regular progress reports and board decisions played an important role in the formation of the INC (Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee) of the UNFCCC in their general assembly.