COP 29

1. Context

In the run-up to the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it was touted as “the finance COP”, while the ‘New Quantified Climate Goal (NQCG)’ was among the key priority issues to be discussed therein

2.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

A significant milestone in COP history was the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988, a collaborative effort between the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The IPCC's primary role is to produce comprehensive assessment, special, and methodological reports that review scientific data on climate change and propose potential responses.
Today, the IPCC is recognized as a critical boundary organization at the science-policy interface, but during the 1980s, climate science faced considerable uncertainty, skepticism, and limited data. The release of the IPCC's first report in 1990 was pivotal, prompting global calls for a climate change treaty

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an international organization founded in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
It was created to provide a clear, scientific view of the current state of knowledge on climate change, its potential impacts, and possible response options.
The IPCC does not conduct its own research; rather, it assesses and synthesizes the work of thousands of scientists worldwide to deliver objective and transparent reports.
These assessment reports are widely used by policymakers to inform climate-related decisions and international negotiations, such as those under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The IPCC’s work is structured around producing major assessment reports, special reports on specific issues, and methodologies to assist nations in compiling greenhouse gas inventories.
Its first report, published in 1990, was instrumental in bringing global attention to climate change and laid the groundwork for the formation of international climate treaties, including the UNFCCC.
Over time, the IPCC has become a critical link between scientific research and policy action, helping shape the global response to climate change

3.Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC)

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was a key body established to develop and negotiate international agreements on climate change. Formed in response to the growing urgency to address climate issues, the INC's most significant achievement was drafting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was finalized and adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
The INC consisted of representatives from various countries and was tasked with creating a framework for global cooperation on climate action. This involved negotiating the responsibilities of countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change, and promote sustainable development practices.
The work of the INC laid the foundation for subsequent climate treaties and protocols, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, establishing a path for international collaboration on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The committee’s work concluded once the UNFCCC was adopted, and its ongoing functions were transferred to the Conference of the Parties (COP), which now convenes annually to review progress and negotiate further commitments

4. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a foundational international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Its primary goal is to address climate change by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous human-induced interference with the climate system. The UNFCCC serves as the main framework guiding global efforts to mitigate climate change, adapt to its impacts, and promote sustainable development.
Under the UNFCCC, countries agreed to collaborate on climate action, with developed nations taking the lead in reducing emissions, recognizing their historical contributions to greenhouse gas levels.
The convention established a process for ongoing negotiations, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP), where member states meet annually to review progress, set goals, and negotiate commitments.
Key agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015, were formed under the UNFCCC framework, enabling countries to establish legally binding or voluntary emissions reduction targets and adaptation strategies.
The UNFCCC remains a crucial platform for international cooperation on climate change, involving over 190 countries in efforts to address one of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century

5. Conference of Parties (CoP)

The UNFCCC established ambitious goals for tackling climate change, yet it became clear that additional processes were necessary to support and expand the convention's objectives.
Over time, the Framework Convention led to the creation of various institutions, processes, and structures to foster global collaboration.
Among these was the establishment of the Conference of the Parties (COP), which serves as the convention's primary governing body.
Each year, the COP gathers representatives from the parties—countries that have ratified the UNFCCC—to review progress, negotiate further actions, and strengthen commitments.
The COP is unique as the world’s only multilateral forum where nearly all nations come together to jointly craft and implement climate policies. Currently, the UNFCCC includes 198 parties (197 countries and the European Union).
The first COP took place in Berlin, Germany, in 1995, where the Berlin Mandate was introduced. This milestone emphasized the need for legally binding commitments specifically for developed countries, marking a significant advancement in international climate action

6. Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that was adopted in 1997 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and came into effect in 2005.
It was the first legally binding agreement to set specific greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for developed countries, recognizing their historical responsibility for climate change.
The protocol’s primary objective was to reduce global emissions by at least 5% below 1990 levels during its first commitment period, from 2008 to 2012.
One of the protocol's innovative features was its market-based mechanisms, including emissions trading, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI).
These mechanisms allowed countries to meet part of their targets through investments in emission-reducing projects, either within their own borders or in other nations, especially developing countries.
While the Kyoto Protocol marked a major step forward in international climate policy, it faced challenges. Some key nations, such as the United States, opted not to ratify it, and developing countries were not required to reduce emissions under the agreement, leading to criticism about its fairness and effectiveness.
Despite its limitations, the Kyoto Protocol set the foundation for future climate agreements, including the Paris Agreement, which took a more inclusive approach to emission reductions

For Prelims: COP29, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Paris Agreement, Fossil Fuel, Loss and Damage Fund, carbon dioxide, Methane, Glasgow conference

For Mains:

1. Examine the key outcomes of COP28, focusing on the measures aimed at transitioning away from fossil fuels and mitigating methane emissions. Assess the effectiveness of the agreements in catalyzing immediate climate actions. (250 Words)

Previous Year Questions

1. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has announced which country to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023? (SSC CGL 2023)

A. UAE B. US C. UK D. Russia

2. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty drawn at (UPSC 2010)

A. United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 1972

B. UN Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992

C. World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002

D. UN Climate Change Conference Copenhagen, 2009

3. UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) entered into from - (Sr. Teacher Gr II NON-TSP G.K. 2018)

A. 21 March 1994 B. 5 June 1992 C. 12 May 1991 D. 5 June 1993

4. The 'Paris Agreement' adopted in Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in December 2015 will be effective provided the document is signed by: (UPSC CAPF 2016)

A. 51 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 51% of global greenhouse gas emission

B. 51 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emission

C. 55 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emission

D. 75 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 51% of global greeenhouse gas emission

5. The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of (UPSC 2016)

(a) pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East
(b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change
(c) capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(d) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals

6. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2016)

The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answers: 1-A, 2-B, 3-A, 4-C, 5-B, 6-B

Mains

1. ‘Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC 2017)

2. Describe the major outcomes of the 26^th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (UPSC 2021)

Source: The Indian Express

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