Analysis of UNFCCC Policy Making on Climate Change: A Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), focusing on its role in addressing the issue of climate change. It begins with an introduction to climate change, defining its implications and the importance of the UNFCCC as an international environmental treaty. The report then delves into the objectives and decision-making parameters of the UNFCCC, exploring the convention's goals to mitigate human interference with the climate system. It further examines various policy instruments employed by the UNFCCC and discusses the consultation processes and functions of the Conference of Parties (COP). The report also highlights the issue of climate change, its impacts, and the importance of the AR5 report. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of the UNFCCC's framework for global cooperation and the need for continuous efforts to combat climate change. It also discusses the governing and decision-making bodies of UNFCCC, including COP, CMP, and CMA, and their roles in reviewing the situation and taking decisions.

Running Head: BUSINESS AND CORPORATION LAW 0
Policy Making and Climate change
4/23/2019
Student’s Name

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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Issue of climate change....................................................................................................................3
Objectives and decision making parameters of the UNFCCC........................................................7
Policy Instruments and its types......................................................................................................9
Consultation and the Conference of Parties Process.....................................................................12
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................14
References......................................................................................................................................16

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In general, Climate change can be understood as a change in regional or global climate
patterns. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) also provided a
definition of climate change. According to the article 1 of the above-mentioned convention,
climate change refers to a change of climate that is accredited to human activity (in direct as well
as indirect manner) which alters the composition of the global atmosphere. Such change
observed over comparable time in addition to the natural climate variability (Unfccc.int, 2019).
Climate change is the most significant and considerable topic of today as with the development
of globalization, the risk to climate is getting an increase, which is affecting the global
environment in a very dangerous manner. UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty that
has been adopted on 9 May 1992. On 03rd June 1992, the treaty was opened for a signature that
has been closed on 14th June 1992 at the Earth Summit which organized in Rio de Janeiro
(Maus, 2017). This treaty came into force as on 21st March 1994 and more than 190 countries
ratified this convention (Ford, Maillet, Pouliot, Meredith & Cavanaugh, 2016). The main
objective of this treaty was to reduce the level of anthropogenic interference in the climate
system. Afterward the development of this treaty in original form, certain other protocols have
also been developed over the time but the ultimate objective of all of them was to reduce the
negative impact on climate because of human activities and to provide different standards of
working and use of resources to the countries that have signed the UNFCCC.
The objective of the presented report is to review and analysis the different aspects and
area of UNFCCC. The report will be divided into four parts mainly, where one or more specific
topic will be addressed. In the presented report, the focus will be made to the matters associated

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to climate change that has been addressed by the subjective convention. The convention has
certain purposes and decision-making parameters, which will also be, discuss in the report. As
mentioned above that the report will be divided into four parts, the third part will be developed
considering various types of policy instruments, which is referred under UNFCCC. At last, the
manner will be discussed in which the conference party process can help in consultation.
UNFCCC discussed the issue of climate change as well as its impact on various
countries. The volume of greenhouse gases is increasing in the air because of industrialization
and a few farming methods. There is a direct relation between the level of greenhouse gases and
the average global temperature on earth. Changes in land use, the industrial revolution, buring of
fossil fuels are some of the reason behind the concentration of greenhouse gases. As a result,
there is a need to take the actions to reduce and prevent the greenhouse gas emission Over the
last few decades, the knowledge of climate change, its effects and causes have been continuously
growing in depth and breadth. Article 3 of the convention outlines the principles according to
which the member countries are required to protect the climate system for the benefits of future
humankind generation in accordance with their capabilities and responsibilities. It was also
required by UNFCCC that parties who have signed the treaty should take appropriate measures
to anticipate, minimize and prevent the lead reason for climate change and to minimize the
negative/adverse impacts. This convention puts the “common but differentiated responsibilities”
on the signatories. The reason behind the same is that all the countries are different in terms of
their development status, goals, and priorities. The principle named “Common but differentiated
responsibilities” principle depends on the fact that some of the countries have been emitting

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more Greenhouse gases in comparison to others and this is the reason that they need to take more
responsibilities in this direction. The convention divided the signatory countries in three
categories namely annexure I countries, annexures II countries, and non-annexure countries.
Convention set out the different responsibilities on different categories. The document
demands reduction in the level of GHG emission and development of sinks from countries
mentioned under Annexure I. Further, these countries are also required to inform and report the
steps taken by them in the direction to climate change prevention. This category included 42
nations. Another category i.e. Annexure II comprises 23 countries. The countries that belong to
this category has an obligation to transfer the environment-friendly technologies to other
countries especially to developing countries. The last category, which is non-annexure countries
are encouraged to reduce the level of GHG emission, to protect the sink and to cooperate on
technology. These countries do not have strict obligation such as the countries, which are listed
in Annexure I and II. These are developing countries. Here this is to state that the parties, which
are not included in Annexure, I will take the advantage of project happenings subsequent to
certified emission reductions (Sreekanth, 2016).
In order to discuss the identification of issues in cases of public policy this is to state that
most of the times, these issues are related to the mass public that affects the interest of many
people together. Further, the issues, which have mass appeal, become the agenda of policy. The
same went with climate change issue and therefore UNFCCC addressed the same. The issue of
climate change supported by The Synthesis Report (SYR) of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report
(AR5). This report is necessary to review that whether the analytical approaches are valuable for
policy makers or not (Rosen, & Guenther, 2016). According to this report, continuous GHG
emission will cause more warming in the environment and long-lasting adverse impact in all the

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components of the climate system. It will also increase the likelihood of irreversible and
pervasive results for the ecosystem and human beings. The issue of climate change has presented
as one of the most emerging issues of the 21st century. This report was developed based on the
report prepared by three Working Groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC). The report summarized key highlights related to climate change for the use of
policymakers. Here this is necessary to state that the study of this issue is required in depth for
policymakers in order to create further rules and policies. A different “Climate Change 2014
Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers” is there which summarized the structure of the
longer report. This summary includes changes made in the past and their reasons, future risks,
their impacts, future pathways for sustainable development, mitigation, and adaption. In this
manner, this report is mainly focused on article 2 of UNFCCC (Gao, Gao, & Zhang, 2017).
According to this report, the periods of 1983 to 2012 was the warmest period in the Northern
Hemisphere over the past 1400 years. Global mean sea level rose by 0.19 [0.17 to 0.21] m
(Figure SPM.1b) over the period 1901 to 2010 (Lu, & Lu ,2019). . Many other statistics and data
have been presented, some in the form of theory and some in the form of pictures. Following is
the annual anthropogenic GHG emissions for the periods 1970–2010 by gases

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(Ipcc.ch, 2019)
In order to discuss the issue identification of climate change, this is to say that the
mentioned AR5 identified the impacts and climate change and stated that this change impacted
the human and natural system on all continents across the globe in recent decades. Since 1950,
many of the changes in climate events and extreme climate been detected. Some of the
forthcoming dangers triggered by climate change and their impacts been highlighted in this
report which is far crucial and significant for the study by policymakers. Climate change also
poses a risk for food productions, which can also be understood by the following diagram

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(Ipcc.ch, 2019)
In this manner, it is clear that UNFCCC and AR5 identified and addressed the issue of
climate change in a well-defined manner, which is important in order to develop further policies
in this area.
As the name implies, the main objective of UNFCCC seems to prevent negative impacts
of climate change by developing various policies and adopting the required measures. Article 2
of UNFCCC stipulates the objective of this convention (Kameyama, & Kubota, 2010).
According to this article, the lead aim of this convention and all the other related documents that
the signatories may adopt is to attain maintenance of greenhouse gas immersions to a level in
order to avoid hazardous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Further, such level
is required to be achieved in a period, which is enough to let the ecosystem to adapt naturally to

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climate change so that the food production is no disturbed and economic development is enable
to proceed in a sustainable manner. In conjunction with the UNFCCC, the other related
documents and protocols has the same objective.
Moving the focus towards the discussion of policy analysis, this is to mention that such
analysis is important in order to check the effectiveness of the public policy. Here this is
necessary to state that the policy analysis is not decision making (Althaus, Bridgman & Davis,
2018a, p. 61). Decision-making has the next step of policy analysis and decision makers always
have that information that is not available to the analyst. Similar to any other policy, UNFCCC
also has certain bodies that perform the functions of analysis and decision-making. Firstly, to
discuss the governing and process management body, the name of the conference of the parties is
required to be mentioned. It is the supreme decision-making body of the convention, which is
also known as COP. Every signatory nation is represented in COP where they review the
implementation of the convention and other legal instruments. Article 4 of the convention consist
few commitment of the parties towards COP (Tladi, 2007). This article highlighted many of the
areas where COP is required to take actions and decisions. Article 7 of the convention gives legal
effect to the establishment of COP. COP has the power to call the extraordinary sessions of
parties whenever to feel necessary. COP meets each year unless parties decide something else.
Further under this article COP was given power to decide the decision making process for the
topics which were nit covered by the convention already.
Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol
(CMP) is another body that review implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and decide how the
effective implementation can take place. Similar to CMP, Conference of the Parties serving as
the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) is also an important governing and

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decision-making body of UNFCCC, which review the success of the implementation of Paris
agreement and provides methods to promote the effective implantation of this agreement. These
bodies were not there in the original document of UNFCCC and established later on. Article 8 of
the convention established Secretariat. Clause 2 of this article outlines the functions of the
secretariat. As mentioned above, certain process management bodies are also there in addition to
the governing bodies. Bureau of the COP, CMP, and CMA is one of them. This bureau is there to
help and support to the functions of governing bodies by the means advice and guidance. Total
11 officers are there in the bureau. COP is the main body that reviews the situation and takes the
decision. The reason behind the same is that it consist representatives from all the states and this
is the supreme authority as well. In this manner, it is clear that UNFCCC make its full focus on
climate change and prevention of the same. It established COP as the supreme authority, which
ensures that convention is fulfilling its objectives and all the parties are implementing the rules in
an appropriate manner.
Generally, there are five categories of policy instruments that are used by the
governments to address an issue, depending on the size, type, and significance of the same.
These are advocacy instruments, network instruments, money instruments, government action
instruments, and lastly law instruments (Althaus, Bridgman & Davis, 2018b, p. 90). There are
various range of policy instruments prescribed under the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change. The six chief policy instruments that are prescribed are the Policy support
and frameworks, Regulatory instruments, Economic and fiscal instruments, Research and
Development, Voluntary Approaches, and others. These are in addition to international treaties.

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Two chief international treaties are extendable to the 1992 United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change namely the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The Kyoto
Protocol was adopted in Japan and hence the name and parties signing to it commit towards
internationally binding targets for the reduction of emission (Gupta, 2014). As of the latest data,
there are 192 Parties, which includes 191 States and 1 regional economic integration
organization, which are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC. The treaty places
heavier burdens on the developed nations, taking into account the potential Greenhouse gases
emissions. Yet another major treaty is the Paris Agreement, which brings together the nations,
towards undertaking efficient efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects
(Liobikienė, & Butkus, 2017). As of the data of the 2016, there are a total of 175 parties which
have signed to the agreement and agreed to undertake efforts to reduce the global temperature in
light of the sustainable development.
The first policy instrument that is the Policy support and frameworks are descriptive of
the good practices that are capable of being repeated and be adjusted in size according to the
different countries. These target practices are required to be tapped in the period up to 2020, in
number of countries across the world. Some of the policies that have been formed under the said
instrument are listed and explained as follows. For instance, one of the popular policy instrument
programme in Australia is “Zero Net Emissions Community.” The programme is operational in
the area of a community of villages in New South Wales, namely the Byron Shire; and is on the
lines of the thematic area of the energy efficiency in the buildings. The region has not only put
the Australia’s first virtual net metering programme, but also partnered with the households and
solar businesses to reduce energy usage in buildings.

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Another set of policy instruments of the UNFCCC are the economic and fiscal
instruments. The significance of these policy instruments lies in the fact that the authorities use
the same to control the macroeconomic outcomes, thereby influencing the economy of a region
(Elvik, & Ramjerdi, 2014). Further, these are employed to ensure that the sufficient revenues are
channelized in a required programme, that the individual behaviour is influenced through the
provision of the financial incentives and the disincentives (Althaus, Bridgman & Davis, 2018c,
p. 96). Some of the programmes of the UNFCCC that fall under the category of the economic
and fiscal instruments are listed and explained as follows. In Australian context, there has been
establishment of an “Emission reduction fund worth the capitalization of 2.55 billion Australian
dollars.” The programme is established to cover the costs of the reduction of the Non Carbon
Dioxide based Greenhouse gases, and the waste management of such gases and particles. Thus,
the programme deals with the management of the landfills, capturing of the methane and the
recovery of the energy for the purpose of the heat and electricity generation. The benefit is
transferred by the means of delivery of the abatement in the said activities.
The third type of policy instruments that are there in UNFCCC framework are the
regulatory instruments. These are on the lines of the government actions, which makes use of the
public services funds as set aside as a part of the budget (Althaus, Bridgman & Davis, 2018d, p.
97). Thus, in a way regulatory bodies transfers its powers to the regional and private players for
the advancement of its objectives (Coletti & Radaelli, 2013). Some of the UNFCCC programmes
that fall under the category of the regulatory instruments are the “Legislation on integration of
air pollution and climate policies” which is operative in the country of South Africa and is on the
lines of the Integrated waste management. Further, other programmes are the “EU nitrates
directive”, operative in the European Union on the lines of the Efficient use of nitrogen fertilizers