This week begins the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Representatives from around the world will convene in Copenhagen for two weeks to deliberate ways to curb worldwide greenhouse emissions.
You will find a list of the negotiating positions of countries crucial to the process here.
The stakes are high, and so is the jargon. Sorting through the bevy of news reports can be difficult if you are unfamiliar with some basic terms.
Below is a list of some important terms you’re likely to hear over the next two weeks.
Framework Convention on Climate Change
The United Nations held a summit in 1992 to address the growing global concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions. This summit produced an international treaty known as the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). The FCCC became active in 1994 and today has 192 countries (also known as parties) who have agreed to it. This treaty does not provide any greenhouse gas limits nor does it contain any penalties.
The FCCC requires participants to set mandatory emission limits through updates which are referred to as protocols. The only successful protocol to date is the Kyoto Protocol which was adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan.
Conference Of The Parties
Conference Of The Parties (COP) is the title used to describe the official meeting of those who are participants in the FCCC. The meeting in Copenhagen is known as COP 15, representing the 15th meeting of the parties.
You may notice many updates on Twitter that are tagged with the hash tag #cop15.
Annex I/Annex II Countries
The FCCC divides participants into different categories. These categories are one of the most divisive areas of the FCCC since your category often determines how much cost you will incur.
Annex I represents developed nations and economies who are in transition.
Annex II represents developed nations who pay the cost to support developing countries.
Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an international government organization that publishes special reports pertaining to the FCCC and its efforts to curb greenhouse gases.
The IPCC does not do its own research. It publishes reports using peer reviewed scientific literature.
Binding Legislation
The terms binding legislation and non-binding legislation are staples in COP meetings.
Binding legislation, like the Kyoto Protocol, carries clearly stated mandates and penalties if they are not properly followed.
Non-binding legislation lacks the authority of binding legislation and is often used at these meetings as a catalyst for more discussions.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adoptanegotiator / CC BY-SA 2.0
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