STUDY GUIDE

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC)
Introduction by the Chairs

Honorable delegates of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,

We are delighted to welcome you to the United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change of UWCEA Moshi MUN 2023! It is a great honor for us to serve as your
Co-Chairs for this year’s conference and we are looking forward to having a fun,
interesting and overall amazing time with you!

MUN is basically the best practice and introduction to the world of international politics. It
provides you with diplomatic and debating skills, but also with great friendships and one
of a kind experience. If this will be your first conference, just keep in mind you are
not the only first-timer. We will be more than happy to assist you and make your
experience as interesting as possible.

In 1972, climate negotiations started for the first time in Stockholm, Sweden. 51 years
later, here we are, with much progress but still more to come. The United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the basis for the UN climate
change policy and has a near universal membership with 197 parties. The UNFCCC
discusses and tackles the most pressing and urgent issues the world has to face
nowadays.

Successfully implementing climate actions as a result of the Paris Agreement remains a

pressing issue that needs to be addressed globally. This is why we have chosen this topic,
which we believe is of particular interest to the youth, given its long-lasting impacts on our
lives.

We look forward to meeting you all in Moshi,

Mathieu Dacruz Xiran Cao

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About the UNFCCC

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the

foundational treaty that has provided a basis for international climate negotiations, and
the international treaty to combat "dangerous human interference with the climate
system". The Convention has been ratified by 197 states who have committed to act on
climate change and regularly report on their progress.

The text of the Framework Convention was produced during the meeting of an
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in New York from 30 April to 9 May 1992. The
Convention was adopted on 9 May 1992 and opened for signature on 4 June 1992 at the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro
(known by its popular title, the Earth Summit).

From its inception in 1992, the UNFCCC has led to the adoption of a number of
subsequent agreements. It has spurred the development of key infrastructure and policies
at the international and national levels that serve as cornerstones of today’s climate
action, including measuring and tracking and reporting emissions and impacts;
generating knowledge and research; and building the capacity to address the causes and
effects of climate change.

Pursuant to Article 22, the Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or

accession by States and by regional economic integration organizations. States and
regional economic integration organizations that have not signed the Convention may
accede to it at any time. The Convention entered into force on 21 March 1994, in
accordance with Article 23, after the 50th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval
or accession had been deposited.

Currently, there are 198 Parties (197 States and 1 regional economic integration
organization) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

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About COPs

The Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC, commonly known as COP, is the supreme
decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention are
represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and
any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote
the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative
arrangements.

A key task for the COP is to review the national communications and emission inventories
submitted by Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the effects of the
measures taken by Parties and the progress made in achieving the ultimate objective of
the Convention.

The COP meets every year, unless the Parties decide otherwise. The first COP meeting
was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995. The COP meets in Bonn, the seat of the
secretariat, unless a Party offers to host the session. Just as the COP Presidency rotates
among the five recognized UN regions - that is, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the
Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe and Others – there is a
tendency for the venue of the COP to also shift among these groups.

COPs lead to yearly international climate agreements, like the Kyoto Protocol (COP23), the
Paris Agreement (COP21), the Bali Action Plan (COP13), the Copenhagen Accord
(COP15), the Glasgow Pact (COP26) and the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan
(COP27).

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The Topic

“Reinforcing climate action, taking into consideration the submitted Nationally

Determined Contributions, to abide by and implement the COP21 targets”

Climate action refers to the stepped-up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and,
strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-induced impacts. Climate action
can therefore be approached in two distinct methods; adaptation and mitigation.

Adaptation
It refers to the process of adjusting to the current and anticipated impacts of climate
change in order to reduce the negative impacts on human societies and natural systems.
This can include a wide range of actions, such as improving infrastructure to withstand
extreme weather events, developing early warning systems for natural disasters,
relocating communities in vulnerable areas, and promoting sustainable agriculture and
water management practices. Adaptation can involve both proactive measures to reduce
vulnerability to future climate change impacts, as well as reactive measures to respond to
the immediate effects of climate change. Effective adaptation strategies often involve a
combination of approaches tailored to local conditions and the specific needs of different
communities and sectors.

Mitigation
Mitigation refers to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or enhance
carbon sinks in order to prevent or limit the magnitude of future climate change. This can
include several actions, like transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy
efficiency, reducing emissions from transportation, promoting sustainable land use
practices, and investing in carbon capture and storage technologies. Mitigation efforts
can also have co-benefits, such as improving air quality, creating new job opportunities,
and enhancing energy security. While there are costs associated with mitigation, the
benefits of reducing the risks and impacts of climate change far outweigh the costs.

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Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are the climate action plans submitted by
each country that are intended to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. The NDCs are a key component of the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in
2015 as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Under the Paris Agreement, each country is expected to develop and communicate their
NDCs, which outline their targets and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and adapting to the impacts of climate change. These targets and strategies should be
ambitious, fair, and transparent, and should take into account each country's unique
circumstances, capabilities, and development priorities.

The NDCs can cover various sectors, including energy, transportation, agriculture, forestry,
and waste management. They can include both mitigation and adaptation measures, and
should be updated and strengthened over time to reflect changing circumstances and
increasing ambition.

The NDCs are a critical tool for implementing the Paris Agreement and achieving its
long-term goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius above
pre-industrial levels, and pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The
success of the NDCs will depend on the level of ambition, transparency, and
accountability demonstrated by each country in implementing their commitments, as well
as the level of international support and cooperation provided to help countries achieve
their goals.

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COP21 Targets

The COP21 targets, also known as the Paris Agreement targets, are the emissions
reduction goals agreed upon by the 196 parties to the UNFCCC during COP21 in Paris.

The main goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global temperature rise to well below 2
degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5
degrees Celsius, in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. To achieve this
goal, each country was expected to submit a nationally determined contribution (NDC),
which outlines their targets and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Other specific COP21 targets include:

● Reaching global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and

achieving a balance between emissions and removals of greenhouse gasses in the
second half of this century.
● Enhancing adaptation efforts and the ability of countries to adapt to the impacts of
climate change, and making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low
greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.
● Providing financial and technical assistance to developing countries to support
their efforts in reducing emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

The COP21 targets represent a significant step forward in global efforts to address
climate change and represent a historic achievement in international cooperation.
However, even if claimed to be the first ever legally binding agreement on climate, it is
important to note that the targets are not legally binding by most nation-states and
courts, and it is up to each country to determine how they will implement their
commitments and achieve their goals. The success of the Paris Agreement will depend
on the collective effort and cooperation of all countries to reduce emissions and adapt to
the impacts of climate change.

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Your Intervention

Your intervention should reflect your country’s submitted NDC and vision for climate
action. It should also reflect your country’s financial commitments in the light of global
adaptation and mitigation targets, as part of annual climate finance. This model COP will
feature pragmatic actions, whether financial, adaptive or mitigative, to ensure follow-up
on the Paris Agreement. As per UNFCCC usual procedures, decisions will be adopted by
consensus and all delegates be heard before consensus.

Useful Links

1. List of NDCs: [Link]

2. Paris Agreement: [Link]

3. List of National Adaptation Plans (if applicable):

[Link]

4. Climate Finance 2016-2020: [Link]