|
|
|
The United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the foundation of
global efforts to combat global warming. It's ultimate objective is the
stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that
would prevent dangerous man-made 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.
All Parties
to the convention will develop and submit "national
communications" containing inventories of greenhouse gas emissions by
source and greenhouse gas removals by
"sinks". They will adopt national programmes for mitigating climate
change and develop strategies for adapting to its impacts. They will also
promote technology transfer and the sustainable management, conservation, and
enhancement of greenhouse gas sinks and "reservoirs" (such as forests
and oceans). In addition, the Parties will take climate change into account in
their relevant social, economic, and environmental policies; cooperate in
scientific, technical, and educational matters; and promote education, public
awareness, and the exchange of information related to climate change.
All Caribbean nations are parties of
the convention. French Antilles, British Caribbean Territories, Puerto Rico and
US Virgin Islands, Aruba and Netherlands Antilles are not parties to the
convention as independent countries. Click
here for a table that lists and provides online links to all the Greater
Caribbean countries with national communications submitted, national programmes
for mitigating climate change adopted and strategies for adaptation developed.
The latest, major attempt to curb the
greenhouse gas emissions is the Kyoto
Protocol. Under the Protocol the industrialized countries are to reduce
their collective emissions of six key greenhouse gases by at least 5 % compared
to the base year of 1990. The convention obliges also the developing nations to
take measures limit emissions.
The Protocol was opened for signature
for one year starting 16 March 1998. It will enter into force
90 days after it has been ratified by at least 55 Parties to the Convention,
including developed countries representing at least 55% of the total 1990 carbon
dioxide emissions from this group. Political disagreements since late 2000 over
how to implement the Protocol have slowed down the rate of ratification. In the
meantime, governments will continue to carry out their commitments under the
Climate Change Convention.
|
yahoo.com with questions or comments
about this web site. Questions concerning material, copyright of which resides
outside of CIMH, should be directed to the institutions in question.