International Policies

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. The convention has been ratified by 192 countries. There are annual meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP) which is the main decision making authority comprising of representatives from all countries involved.

The first meeting COP1 took place in Berlin in 1995. COP3 which took place in Kyoto in 1997 led to a legally agreement by some member countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005 and will expire in 2012. During the next meeting in Copenhagen COP15 in December 2009 governments will seek to agree all the essential elements of a comprehensive, fair and effective new deal on climate change.

The ICSE plays an active role in the COP process, bringing together business interests and sending the message to governments, that businesses are ready for the challenge of shifting to a low carbon economy, but Governments must make legally binding commitments to reduce emissions and develop long-term, robust policies and roadmaps to ensure these targets are met.

For more information on the history of COP click here.