Monitoring Climate Change
Because of the growing concerns about climate change world over, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in 1988 established Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for assessing the gravity of the problem.
The FirstAssessment Report of IPCC was completed in 1990 which highlighted the threat of climate change.In December 1990, the UN General Assembly decided to start negotiations which actually commenced in February 1991 and were concluded in 15 months time. These were called United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Convention was adopted in May 1992. It was opened for signatures in Rio at the UN Conference on Environment and Development. It was ratified by 50 countries and came into force in March 1994.
The ultimate objective of the Convention was to achieve the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.
In 1997, the Parties to the UNFCCC adopted the Kyoto Protocol. It required Annex I countries (developed countries and economies in transition) to reduce their overall GHG emissions by 5.2% below their 1990 levels.
Kyoto Protocol created three cooperative mechanisms- Emission Trading, Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism. These mechanisms' allow member counties some AexibiHty in meeting their commitments with respect to reduction in emissions.
The Clean Development Mechanism is important for India as it allows developed countries to use certified emission reduction credits from project activities in developing countries, and also assists developing countries in achieving sustainable development objectives.
The Sixth Conference of Parties (COP 6) was held in Bonn on 16-27 July 2001. In COP 6, poHtical agreements were made to help countries move towards adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol was formalized into the Marrakesh Accords in October-November 2001. The Seventh Conference of Parties (COP 7) was held at Marrakesh, Morocco during 29 October-IO November 2001.
The Marrakesh Ministerial Declaration reaffirms that economic and social development, and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the developing countries. It also stresses the importance of capacity building, and developing innovative technologies through public and private sector involvements.
The financing mechanisms for climate change related activities in the developing countries include the following:
• Introduction of an adaptation fund to finance adaptation of projects and programmes in developing countries. It derives funding (2%) of the share of proceeds from the clean development mechanism projects.
• Establishment of a special climate change fund from Annex I Party Contributions for funding activities complementary to those funded by Global Environmental Facility (GEF).
∙ Introduction of a Least Developed Country Fund for supporting a work programme for least developed countries.
Today, 186 Governments are parties to this Convention.
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