The document summarizes key events and agreements related to addressing global climate change, including: - The 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which established the framework for future climate agreements but no binding commitments. - The 1997 Kyoto Protocol which set the first binding emissions reduction targets for developed countries from 2008-2012. - The 2015 Paris Agreement which aims to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C and reaches net zero emissions by 2050, with countries submitting national climate action plans and reviewing them every 5 years.

1. Global Warming- gradual increase in the overall
temperature of the atmosphere due to higher
concentration of greenhouse gases;
Greenhouse gases- include carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide and ozone
Fossil Fuels Divestment- removal of investment
assets from companies engaged in the extraction
of fossil fuels

2. 1992: Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit adopts UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):
- anthropogenic climate change acknowledged
- will to reduce GHG emissions is expressed
- framework for future climate change agreements is provided
- no binding commitments or specific goals were set
1995: The parties of the UNFCCC begin to meet annually as
Conference of the Parties (COP) to assess progress in emission
reductions

3. 1997: Kyoto Protocol is adopted:
- establishes rolling commitment periods with the first
period 2006-2012
- sets binding emissions targets for 37 industrialized
countries + EU in the first period
- non-compliance is subject to penalties such as
banning from emissions trading schemes and higher targets
for the next period
2012: Doha Amendment:
- establishes the second commitment period 2013-2020
- ratified by only 59 countries and has not entered into
force

4. • COP21 stands for the 21st Conference
of the Parties
• 30 November -11 December in Paris,Le
Bourget
• Chaired by Laurent Fabius- French
Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 195 countries (all UN members)+ EU
• Result of the negotiations is the Paris
Agreement
• Goal is to keep global warming to less
than 2°C, optimally 1.5°C, compared
to pre-industrial levels

5. • Each country agrees to nationally
determined contributions(INDC)
• Reduction in GHG emissions will be
begin after 2020
• Zero emissions must be reached by
2050
• Countries are asked to review
contributions every 5 years, starting
2023
• $100 billion provided to developing
countries
• Agreement will be open for signing
on 22 April in New York

6. • Agreement must be ratified by at least 55 countries, producing
55% of global GHG emissions, to be binding
• No specific emission reduction targets or timelines are set
• No mechanism to enforce the adoption and fulfillment of target
emission reductions
• No penalties if targets are not met

7. The Paris Agreement
and our Policy Exercise
Focus on these questions in your meetings tomorrow
• Relate the scenario you are using (the year 2036) to the
2050 goals defined in the Paris Agreement.
• You will need to make estimates regarding the
required 5-year progress report in 2033
• This is one thing we will compare on Friday
• For the 2036 scenario you are examining, do you believe
it will be possible to achieve the 2050 goal of 0%
emissions? If not, how close can we come?
On Friday, we will look at these questions
• Are the policy recommendations derived from each
scenario helpful in achieving the 2050 goals?
• How might we amend these policies?

8. References
1. http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/
2. http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/
3. http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/nego
tiations/future/index_en.html
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Agreement
5. http://adst.org/2015/12/negotiating-the-unfccc-the-
whole-world-was-against-us/
6. http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php
7. http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/doha_amendment/ite
ms/7362.php