United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The international scientific community has acknowledged the imminence of global warming caused by increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases as a result of human activity. In fact, climate record analyses of the last 100 years indicate a rise in global temperature of between 0.4 and 0.5°C.

Aware of the situation, in 1988 the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environmental Program formed an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), aiming at reviewing the status of world-wide understanding of Climate Change and its impact. Reviews performed by the IPCC revealed that climate change effects may be disruptive and that it is imperative to take actions so as to mitigate its impact.

Considering that these measures would affect economic development of the nations that integrate our planet, and since repercussions and responsibility levels for environmental damage are not equal, during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), in 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed.

The objective of the Convention is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Such a level should be reached within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, ensuring that food production is not threatened and a sustainable economic development is allowed.

In order to reach this goal, signatory countries of the Framework Convention belonging to Annex I (Industrialized countries) were committed to reduce their greenhouse gas emission levels in 2000 to 1990 levels, as well as to provide developing countries with counseling and technical and financial support.

On its part, Mexico and the other countries not included in Annex I of the Convention, agreed to protect the climate system for the benefit of humanity on an equity basis, and according to its specific responsibilities and capabilities.

In this regard, our country set the foundations to address this phenomenon in Mexico through phase I of the “Country Study: Mexico”, which is integrated by several researches:

• The National Emissions Inventory of Greenhouse Gases, by sources and sinks.

• Generation of future climate and regional scenarios.

• Development of future emission scenarios.

• Climate change vulnerability studies for Mexico.

Currently, work is still being performed to deepen analyses and explore the impact of climate change on other areas (such as the economy) as well as the potential mitigation and adaptation alternatives.

Further information:

• Text of the Convention

• Kyoto Protocol

• Conference of the Parties

• Kyoto Protocol receives 100th ratification (UNFCCC Press Release)

• Reference Material on the Convention