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Loes van Dijk

Decades of Climate Diplomacy: Overview of Global Climate Agreements

Updated: Nov 7, 2023


Picture of the Palace of Nations, which is the home of the United Nations Office at Geneva, located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Palace of Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.

Over the years, a series of international climate agreements have been negotiated and adopted to combat climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect our planet's fragile ecosystems.


In this article, we will delve into some of the key international climate agreements that have shaped the global response to climate change.


1972: Stockholm Declaration and Action Plan for the Human Environment

The Stockholm Declaration was adopted at the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment, the first world conference to make the environment a major issue. The Stockholm Declaration contained 26 principles, which collectively placed environmental issues front and centre of international concerns, and started the dialogue across the Global North and South regarding environmental issues. The Stockholm conference also created the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

1991: Espoo Convention

1992: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

1992: The Rio Declaration

1997: The Kyoto Protocol

2001: Marrakesh Accords

2003: Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

2009: The Copenhagen Accord

2012: The Doha Amendment

2015: The Paris Agreement

2018: The Katowice Climate Package


These international climate agreements and EU climate legislation represent a diverse set of approaches to address climate change, ranging from legally binding emission targets to guidelines for transparency and cooperation. They demonstrate the global community's determination to create a more sustainable and climate-resilient world, while acknowledging the critical role collaboration plays in advancing climate action. While challenges remain in implementing and achieving the goals outlined in these agreements, they are crucial tools in the fight against climate change.

[1] https://unece.org/more-convention



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