Addressing Climate Change

Back to 'Topic 1: Land Cover Transformations and Climate Change'

(UNESCO)

Joel Pett cartoon for USA Today appeared just before the Copenhagen climate change conference in 2009.

COP - Conference of the Parties. In diplomatic parlance, “the parties” refers to the 197 nations that agreed to a new environmental pact, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, at a meeting in 1992.
UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change
IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (An intergovernmental body of the United Nations).

Kyoto Protocol

Where: Kyoto, Japan
When: Signed 11 December 1997, Effective 16 February 2005.
Expiration 1st commitment 31 December 2012. Expiration 2nd commitment 31 December 2020.
Number of parties: 192
What: The Kyoto Protocol operationalizes the UNFCCC by committing industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets. The Convention itself only asks those countries to adopt policies and measures on mitigation and to report periodically.
Signatories: 84
Amendment: The Doha Amendment (COP18) to the Kyoto Protocol in 2012 to extend the agreement to 2020. Doha is in Qatar.

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Kyoto Protocol, UNFCCC

Kyoto Protocol, United Nations Treaty Collection

Paris Agreement (2015)

Other names: The Paris Accords, The Paris Climate Accords
Where: Paris, France
When: Adopted on 12 December 2015, entered into force on 4 November 2016.
Number of parties: 196
What: An international treaty on climate change which covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
Goal: To limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

(Statista)

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The Paris Agreement, UNFCCC

The Paris Agreement, United Nations

COP26 Summit (2021)

Other names: The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties
Where: Glasgow, Scotland
Organised by: United Kingdom and Italy
When: 31 October - 12 November, 2021
What: The COP26 summit brought parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

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COP26

COP26, UNFCCC

(Al Jazeera)

Tuvalu Foreign Minister Address COP26
Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe made an iconic climate change speech standing in a submerged area that used to be dry land. it was pre-recorded and aired at the COP26 summit in Glasgow. Tuvalu is a nation in the Pacific Ocean who is vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by human-induced climate change. The foreign minister emphasised the importance and urgency of international action.
(Photo source: ABC News Tuvalu's foreign minister Simon Kofe gives COP26 speech knee-deep in the sea to show nation on frontline of climate crisis - ABC News)

Watch the video below [1:39]

Other Treaties

New Historic UN Treaty on Oceans Can Help Climate Action | UNFCCC

Businesses Addressing Climate Change

Patagonia (outdoor clothing brand)
Patagonia's founder has given away the label to fight the climate crisis - $3 billion in the American outdoor brand's shares and $100 million per year in profits will be dedicated to protecting the planet. (vice.com)

Torres Strait Islanders Sue Australia for Inaction on Climate Change

(www.biennaleofsydney.artparticipantstorres-strait-8)