United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 set an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. The convention is a general treaty with few specific requirements. It does not make too many demands for the time being but stay tuned. The Convention is based on sharing the burdens of coping with climate change. It comprises the following:

• Set-up of preliminary steps:
- The parties of the convention agree to take climate change into account
- Develop national programs to slow climate change
- Call for developing and sharing environmentally sound technologies and know-how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Set an ultimate objective to stablize greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner
• Establish a framework and a process for agreeing to specific actions – later
• Encourage scientific research on climate change
• The Convention notes that the largest share of historical and current emissions originated in developed countries and they should take the lead in combating climate change.
• Recognize that poorer countries have a right to economic development
• Acknowledge the vulnerability of poorer countries to the effects of climate change
• Support the Concept of Sustainable Development
• Emphasize the need to educate people about climate change

An Addition to the Treaty – the Kyoto Protocol
In 1997 Governments agreed to an addition of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – the so called Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful measures as it is legally binding. It is designed to limit global greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nation negotiations on climate change are supported by the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes, which was organized jointly in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP and The World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The countries that signed the Convention met in Kyoto, Japan in 1997, and agreed on a legally binding Protocol.

Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol
For the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol 55 states which originated 55 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions (based on 1990 emissions) were required to ratify the treaty. With the ratification by the Russian Federation in October 2004, the Kyoto Protocol came into effect on the 16th February 2005. After entering into force the Protocol is legally binding for countries that have ratified it (referred to as Parties to the Kyoto Protocol).
Problems of the Kyoto Protocol: There is no obligation for similar actions by developing countries. The United States has also not yet ratified the Protocol.

Integrated Approach - Sustainable Development
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 supported a new, integrated approach to the problem, emphasizing action to promote sustainable development at the community level. It also called on the United Nations General Assembly to establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INCD) to prepare a Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa by June 1994. In December 1992, the United Nations General Assembly agreed to establish the Committee which completed its negotiations in five sessions. The Convention finally went into effect on 25 December 1996.