International Policy on Climate Change (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

International Policy on Climate Change

• Climate change is a global challenge that requires international cooperation and coordination to address its impacts

Various organisations and conferences play a crucial role in formulating and implementing mitigation and adaptation strategies

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

• The IPCC is a scientific body established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in 1988

• It provides policymakers with objective scientific assessments of climate change, including its impacts, future risks, and potential mitigation and adaptation options

• The IPCC's reports and findings serve as a vital foundation for global climate action

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

• The UNFCCC is an international treaty that provides a platform for global cooperation on climate change

• Its objective is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system

• The UNFCCC organises annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings, where countries discuss and negotiate climate policies, commitments, and agreements

Conference of the Parties (COP)

• The COP meetings serve as crucial forums for decision-making and policy development on climate change

• The COP meetings have resulted in landmark agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement

• These agreements outline international commitments and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting adaptation efforts

National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs)

• NAPAs are a key component of the UNFCCC's efforts to support developing countries in addressing climate change impacts

• NAPAs enable the most vulnerable countries to identify their priority adaptation needs and develop strategies to reduce their vulnerability to climate change

• These programs aim to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity in vulnerable regions

Other Initiatives

• In addition to the above, various other initiatives and conferences, such as the United Nations Climate Action Summit and the Global Climate Action Agenda, aim to mobilise and showcase climate action at the global, regional, and local levels

• These platforms encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the implementation of innovative solutions to address climate change

• It is through these international efforts and conferences that countries and stakeholders come together to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and develop collective strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change