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Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius puts forward a Greenhouse ‘warming’ theory to explain the ice age guided by the question “Is the mean temperature of the ground in any way influenced by the presence of the heat-absorbing gases in the atmosphere?”. He analyses the effects of atmospheric CO2 on global climate. In 1903 he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
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Progress in atmospheric science supports the understanding of mechanisms of large-scale circulation of the atmosphere.
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The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) is established as a specialised agency of the United Nations dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources.
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First significant nuclear accident at Windscale/UK.
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Global programme of geophysical research to study the planetary environment.
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New geophysical observations through first continuous measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration begin at Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory. CO2 concentrations are at 315 parts/million and rising. Measurement leads to recognition of the potential meteorological observing capabilities of Earth-orbiting satellites.
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The UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 1721 (XVI) triggers the establishment of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) World Weather Watch (WWW) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)-International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) Global Atmospheric Research Programme (GARP).
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World Wildlife Fund is established as an international organisation focused on the conservation of nature and the protection of the environment and species.
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First large oil spills from super tankers
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The OECD Guiding Principles concerning International Economic Aspects of Environmental Policies baptise the Polluter Pays Principle as the economic principle for allocating the costs of pollution control and for environmental damage to be borne by the polluter.
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Greenpeace is founded and launches agenda to stop environmental damage through civil protests and non-violent interference
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OECD adopts Polluter Pays Principle as a guiding principle.
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Club of Rome publishes ‘Limits to Growth’ and predicts dire consequences of undamped growth: "The earth’s interlocking resources – the global system of nature in which we all live – probably cannot support present rates of economic and population growth much beyond the year 2100, if that long, even with advanced technology".
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Barbara Ward and René Dubos publish ‘Only one world: The care and maintenance of a small planet’ commissioned for UN Conference on the Human Environment. It is prepared with assistance of an international committee of 152 experts from 58 countries. The report sounds the alarm bell about the impact of human activity on the biosphere, but also transmits the optimism that a shared concern for the planet could lead to a common future.
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The UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm introduces the sustainable development paradigm into the global political debate. It has a development and environment focus and is strongly motivated by regional pollution and acid rain problems of northern Europe. The conference led to the establishment of many national environmental protection agencies and provides the basis for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
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The European Heads of State and Government's Paris Declaration launches the European Communities Environmental Policy.
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Arab-Israeli war leads to oil price shock and economic crisis provoking reflections on energy efficiency and economic growth patterns.
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Environment and Consumer Protection Service is established in European Commission's Department for Industrial Policy.
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Standing Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety is created in European Parliament.
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The WMO Executive Committee Panel of Experts on Climate Change is set up at the request of the sixth special session of the UN General Assembly. It triggers the convening of the 1979 World Climate Conference and the establishment of the four-component World Climate Programme (WCP), including the WMO-ICSU World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
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M. J. Rowland and F. S. Molina publish 'Stratospheric sink for chlorofluoromethanes: chlorine atom-catalysed destruction of ozone' on ozone destruction in the scientific journal ‘Nature’ calculating that unaltered use of CFC gases would critically deplete ozone layer.
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European Community adopts Polluter Pays Principle
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Explosion of a chemical plant in Seveso/Italy.
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First World Climate Conference is convened by WMO, in collaboration with UNESCO, FAO, WHO, UNEP, ICSU and other scientific partners as “a world conference of experts on climate and mankind”. It issues a World Climate Conference Declaration and is attended by some 350 specialists from 53 countries and 24 international organizations and a wide range of disciplines.
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Following the World Climate Conference recommendations, the World Climate Programme (WCP) is established by the WMO. It comprises the World Climate Data Programme (WCDP), World Climate Applications Programme, World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)', and World Climate Impact Study Programme (WCIP). The implementation of the WCP requires involvement of UN bodies and scientific community.
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The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution is adopted as first international legally-binding instrument on air pollution on a broad regional basis. It addresses environmental problems of the UNECE region through scientific collaboration and policy negotiation. The high-level ministerial meeting resulted in the signature by 34 governments and European Community.
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Panel on Climate Change of the US National Academy of Sciences advises that ‘A wait-and-see policy may mean waiting until it is too late’ to avoid significant climate changes. more
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The European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment is created.
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The UN World Commission on Environment and Development is created.
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UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution enters into force
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Ethiopia’s food shortage and hunger crisis spans from 1983 to 1985 with an estimated one million famine deaths; the famine originated in an extreme drought event.
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Antarctic ozone hole discovered by J. C. Farman, B. G. Gardiner, and J. D. Shanklin
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The WMO-UNEP-ICSU Villach International Conference of the Assessment of the role of carbon dioxide and of other greenhouse gases in climate variations and associated impacts discusses the impact of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in climate variations and associated impacts. The Villach Conference Statement includes recommendations to governments and funding institutions on the monitoring and research.
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Climate change is transformed from a science into political and policy issue; concerns about global environmental issues in general increase.
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At the 10th WMO Congress, national delegations call for the WMO to provide authoritative information on the state of knowledge on human-induced climate change. They agree with the Villach International Conference recommendations for periodic assessments of scientific knowledge and support the assessment mechanism to be operate under guidance of governments rather than of scientists serving in personal capacities.
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The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is adopted as "a global agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that deplete it".
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The Polluter Pays Principle and environmental protection are incorporated in the Single European Act.
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The UN World Commission on Environment and Development publishes ‘Brundtland Report’ ‘Our Common Future’ which places sustainable development on the international political agenda. It is the first explicit definition of sustainable development and establishes links between economic growth, resource depletion and social justice with inter-generational equity introduced into the reflection on the economy.
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The European Year of the Environment aims to raise awareness of environmental topics, encourage debate and change attitudes.
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The World Conference on the Changing Atmosphere: Implications for Global Security calls involved actors “to take specific actions to reduce the impending crisis caused by the pollution of the atmosphere”. It advocates for increased resources for WCP research and monitoring efforts, for support of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and for a global convention of protocols on the protection of the atmosphere.
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The UN General Assembly defines climate change as a "common concern of mankind" and intergovernmental issue.
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The EC Directive 88/609/EEC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants is adopted. It acknowledges that "the damage to the environment owing to air pollution makes it urgent to reduce and control emissions from new and existing large combustion plants".
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The pre-negotiation period of an international climate change regime begins and national governments become heavily involved in the beginning global governance process.
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The WMO-UNEP [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] (IPCC) (https://www.ipcc.ch/) is established as an intergovernmentally supervised expert assessment mechanism on climate change composed of three working groups.
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The Hague Summit, including 17 heads of state and government, adopts The Hague Declaration on the Atmosphere to develop a new institutional authority to preserve the global atmosphere and combat global warming.
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The Second World Climate Conference involves 747 participants from 116 countries. Two days of ministerial sessions are attended by 908 participants from 137 countries, including heads of states and government. The conference leads to the establishment of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and to the negotiation on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
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The IPCC First Assessment Report on Climate Change is published. It was prepared by "several hundred working scientists from 25 countries" and includes "the most authoritative and strongly supported statement on climate change that has ever been made by the international scientific community".
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United Nations General Assembly negotiations on a Framework Convention start. United Nations General Assembly establishes Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for a Framework Convention on Climate Change
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The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) are established.
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IPCC and Second World Climate Conference call for global climate treaty. Based on the IPCC's first assessment report, saying that "emissions resulting from human activities are substantially increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases" both advocate governance reforms for a global climate change treaty.
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Formal intergovernmental negotiations phase for a global Framework Convention on Climate Change start. The UN General Assembly establishes the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC). It holds five sessions with over 150 states discussing binding commitments; targets/timetables for emissions reductions; financial mechanisms; technology transfer; "common but differentiated responsibilities" of developed and developing countries.
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Oil well fires in Kuwait following the Persian Gulf War
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The restructuring of the World Climate Programme establishes a Coordinating Committee for the World Climate Programme (CCWCP) and four restructured components: the World Climate Data and Monitoring Programme (WCDMP); the World Climate Applications and Services Programme (WCASP); the World Climate Impact Assessment and Response Strategies Programme (WCIRP); and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).
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EC Commission unsuccessfully proposes European Carbon Tax.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is adopted and opens for signature at 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit bringing the world together to curb greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change.
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The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) is established based on a memorandum of understanding between the WMO, IOC, UNEP and ICSU. It integrates climate relevant components of the established observing systems WMO Global Observing System, Global Atmosphere Watch, Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS). The purpose of the GCOS is to provide observational support for all components of the WCP, the IPCC and the UNFCCC.
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The Global Environment Facility is established to support the fight against most pressing environmental problems.
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EU signs up to UN Frameworks Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
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The Polluter Pays Principle is integrated in the Maastricht Treaty and becomes a key principle of the Oporto Agreement on the European Economic Area.
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The post-UNFCCC agreement phase entails the elaboration and implementation of the UNFCCC and the initiation of negotiations on additional commitments.
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The Intergovernmental Meeting of the World Climate Programme is attended by 360 delegates (134 countries) and 83 experts (37 IGOs/NGOs). Its “Statement on the Climate Agenda” calls for an integrated proposal with four key elements: Climate observations; Advances in climate science; Climate impact assessments and response strategies; Climate services for sustainable development. It especially calls for National Climate Programmes.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) enters into force. Countries that sign up to the treaty are known as its "Parties". With 197 Parties (196 states and the EU), the UNFCCC has near-universal membership. Parties meet annually at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to negotiate multilateral responses to climate change.
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The IPCC Special Report on Technical Guidelines for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations is published. "The ultimate purpose of the Guidelines is to enable estimations of impacts and adaptations which allow comparable assessments to be made for different regions/geographical actors, sectors and countries".
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The 11th World Meteorological Congress authorises the establishment of an Interagency Committee for the Climate Agenda (IACCA) as a peak coordination mechanism for GCOS, IPCC, WCP and other international climate-related programmes and activities.
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The IPCC Second Assessment Report is published. It focuses on economic and social dimensions of climate change.
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At UNFCCC COP 1 in Berlin, Parties agree that commitments in the Convention are 'inadequate' for meeting the Convention objectives. The Berlin Mandate establishes a process to negotiate strengthened commitments for developed countries. It lays the ground for the Kyoto Protocol.
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The UNFCCC Secretariat is relocates from Geneva/Switzerland to Bonn/Germany. The move paves the way for Bonn to become an international sustainability hub and home over 20 UN organisations employing around 1.000 staff, of which the UNFCCC is the largest. The Bonn UN Campus is officially inaugurated in 2006.
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The EU Directive 96/62/EC on ambient air-quality assessment and management is adopted.
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The IPCC Special Report on The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability is published. It analyses the "degree to which human conditions and the natural environment are vulnerable to the potential effects of climate change".
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The UNFCCC COP 3 in Kyoto achieves a historical milestone with adoption of the Kyoto Protocol as the world's first greenhouse gas emissions reduction treaty.
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Unusually severe weather events in various parts of the world (China: worst floods in decades; Bangladesh: 2/3 underwater for several months from monsoons; Central America: Hurricane Mitch). 54 countries are hit by floods, 45 countries by drought. Moreover, the world sees the highest global temperature ever recorded).
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The IPCC Special Report on Aviation and the Global Atmosphere is published. It covers the “potential effects that aviation has had in the past and may have in the future on both stratospheric ozone depletion and global climate change”.
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THe IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios is published. It “describes new scenarios of the future, and predicts greenhouse gas emissions associated with such developments”.
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The Green Paper on EU Emission Trading is presented by the EU Commission.
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The First European Climate Change Programme (ECCP I, 2000-2004) is established.
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EU Commission Decision 2000/479/EC on the implementation of the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER).
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The IPCC Third Assessment Report "describes the current state of understanding of the climate system and provides estimates of its projected future evolution and their uncertainties".
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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 6 in Bonn achieves a breakthrough reaching a broad political agreement on the operational rulebook for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 7 in Marrakesh adopts Marrakesh Accords, which set the stage for ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The Accord formalises the agreement on operational rules for International Emissions Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation along with a compliance regime and accounting procedures.
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EU adopts the ‘Clean Air for Europe’ Strategy.
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Ratification of the Kyoto-Protocol by EU and its member states.
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World Conference on Climate Change convened in Moscow by Russian Federation supported by international bodies including United Nations
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EU Emissions Trading Scheme Directive 2003/87/EC establishes a market-based mechanism to monitor and reduce GHG emissions and to implement parts of the Kyoto Protocol
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EU promotes bio fuels in transport with the Directive 2003/30/EC on the use of biofuels of other renewable fuels for transport.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Kyoto Protocol nters into force when the Russian Federation submits its instrument of ratification.
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Official start of the EU-ETS. It is the first and largest emissions trading scheme in the world and is launched as a major pillar of the EU’s climate policy. The installations regulated by the scheme are collectively responsible for close to half of the EU's emissions of CO2. The EU-ETS also integrated the Kyoto Protocol’s Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanisms.
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The Second European Climate Change Programme (ECCP II, 2005 onwards) starts.
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The EU Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution COM(2005)446 is adopted
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The UNFCCC COP11 in Montreal is, for the first time, held in conjunction with the first Conference of the Parties of the Kyoto Protocol serving as the first Meeting of the Parties of the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 1).
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The IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage provides “information for researchers in environmental science, geology, engineering and the oil and gas sector, policymakers in governments and environmental organizations, and scientists and engineers in industry”.
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The IPCC Special Report on Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System presents “both a scientific assessment of the interrelations between the ozone layer and climate change and development of user-friendly and policy-neutral information to assist all Parties and stakeholders in making informed decisions when evaluating alternatives to ozone-depleting substances”.
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The Clean Development Mechanism, a key flexible mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol, opens for business.
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The WMO-sponsored Conference on Living with Climate Variability and Change: Understanding the Uncertainties and Managing the Risks (Espoo/Finland) reviews opportunities and constraints in integrating climate risks and uncertainties into decision-making in core socio-economic sectors.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) starts strategic planning for Post-Kyoto framework beyond 2012.
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The EU Action Plan on Energy Efficiency COM(2006)545 is adopted.
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The UNFCCC COP11 in Nairobi mandates the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) to undertake a programme to address impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. The Nairobi Work Programme (NWP) is the result.
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The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report focuses on climate change and addresses six main areas: observed changes in climate and their effects; causes of change; impacts of climate change; adaptation and mitigation options and responses; scientific and socio-economic aspects relevant to adaptation and mitigation; key uncertainties.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 13 in Bali adopts Bali Road Map charting the course for a new negotiating process to address climate change. The Plan has five main categories: shared vision, mitigation, adaptation, technology and financing.
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WMO-sponsored Madrid Conference on Secure and Sustainable Living: Social and Economic Benefits of Weather, Climate and Water Services discusses socio-economic policy issues related to generation and use of weather, climate and water related information and services
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The European Council in Brussels approves an integrated climate and energy policy and the EU’s 20-20-20 targets.
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The EU launches the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA).
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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Kyoto Protocol’s 'Joint Implementation' (JI) Mechanism starts. It allows countries with emission reduction or limitation commitments under the Protocol to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission-reduction or emission removal project in another country with similar commitments.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 14 in Poznan launches the Adaptation Fund under the Kyoto Protocol and the Poznan Strategic Programme on Technology Transfer to assist developing countries
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Directive 2008/101/EC integrates emissions from aviation into the EU-ETS. Until 2016, it applied to emissions from flights within the European Economic Area (EEA).
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The Third World Climate Conference on “Climate Prediction and Information for Decision Making” takes place in Geneva. It presents a vision for “an international framework for climate services that links science-based climate predictions and information with the management of climate-related risks and opportunities in support of adaptation to climate variability and change in both developed and developing countries”.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 15 in Copenhagen decides on the Copenhagen Accord. Developed countries pledge up to USD 30 billion in fast-start finance for developing countries for the period 2010-2012.
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The EU adopts its 2020 Climate and Energy legislative package including Directive 2009/29/EC on the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme, Directive 2009/28/EC on renewable energy, Directive 2009/31/EC on geological storage of CO2, and Decision 406/2009/EC on the "Effort Sharing Decision".
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Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 adopts emission performance standards for new passenger cars within the EU.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 15 in Copenhagen is a critical COP for the EU. Its actorness role collapses and COP15 becomes a failure for the EU’s role in global climate governance.
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UNFCCC COP 16 in Cancun results in the Cancun Agreements. They represent a comprehensive package approved by governments to assist developing nations in dealing with climate change. As instruments supporting the Cancun Agreements, the Green Climate Fund, the Technology Mechanism and the Cancun Adaptation Framework are set up.
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The Directorate-General Climate is established within the European Commission. It is later on renamed as DG Climate Action.
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The IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation is published. It deals with the role of renewable energy in mitigating climate change and looks into six renewable energy sources: bioenergy, direct solar energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean energy and wind energy.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 17 in Durban commits to setting up a new universal climate change agreement for the period beyond 2020 by 2015 and launches the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP).
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 17 in Durban launches the Momentum for Change initiative. It is a special UNFCCC initiative on innovative and transformative climate action around the world.
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The EU Commission presents its Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050 (COM (2011) 112).
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The IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation deals with the challenges of risk management and of dealing with extreme weather events in policy-making under uncertainty.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 18 in Doha agrees to work towards a universal climate change agreement by 2015 and to scale up efforts before 2020 beyond existing pledges to curb emissions. It adopts the Doha Amendment on a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2013-2020).
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The EU adopts its Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU.
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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat moves to new headquarters on the UN Campus in Bonn/Germany.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 19 in Warsaw produces the Warsaw Outcomes. They include a rulebook for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and a mechanism to address loss and damage caused by long-term climate change impacts.
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The EU Commission adopts the Clean Air Programme COM/2013/918.
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The EU Commission proposes legislation COM/2013/0769 to ratify the second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol, i.e. the proposal for the ratification of the so-called Doha Amendment.
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The UN Climate Summit brings together heads of state and government, business, finance, civil society and local leaders to mobilise action and ambition on climate change in advance of the UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris in 2015.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 20 in Lima seeks to enhance collective push towards a new universal climate agreement in 2015.
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The EU Commission Communication COM(2014)15 on an EU 2030 Climate and Energy framework includes EU targets and objectives for the period from 2021 to 2030.
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the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report “confirms that human influence on the climate system is clear and growing, with impacts observed across all continents and oceans”.
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The UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris adopts the Paris Agreement in which 195 nations plus the EU agree to combat climate change and unleash actions and investment towards a low-carbon, resilient and sustainable future. The Paris Agreement for the first time brings all nations into a common cause based on their historic, current and future responsibilities.
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The EU adopts the Council Decision (EU) 2015/1339 on the ratification of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by the EU.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 22 in Marrakesh launches the Marrakech Partnership for Climate Action to develop the rulebook of the Paris Agreement. The Conference demonstrates that the implementation of the Paris Agreement is underway.
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The EU and its member states ratify the UNFCCC Paris Agreement.
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change The (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement enters into force as the first universal, legally binding global climate change agreement.
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The UNFCCC COP 23 in Bonn is the first COP to be presided over by a small island developing state, i.e. the Presidency of Fiji. During COP 23 nations agree the next steps towards higher climate action ambitions before 2020. Delegates launch the 'Talanoa Dialogue' for an upward revision of national climate action plans to meet pre-2020 ambition and the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.
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The first UN One Planet Summit of public and private sector leaders in Paris results in 12 climate commitments for the transition to a low carbon transition to increase ambition for the implementation of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement.
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The IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C “assesses projected impacts at a global average warming of 1.5°C and higher levels of warming”. It confirms the need to maintain commitments strong to implement the Paris Agreement's aims of limiting global warming to prevent worst impacts of climate change, which include more frequent and more severe droughts, floods and storms.
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the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 24 in Katowice adopts the 'Katowice Climate Package', a set of implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement. It operationalises the climate change regime contained in the Paris Agreement, promotes international cooperation and encourages greater ambition.
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Within its Clean Energy for all Europeans package (Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, Directive (EU) 2018/2002, Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Directive (EU) 2018/844)) the EU revises the targets of its 2030 Climate and Energy framework upwards.
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The second UN One Planet Summit in New York reviews the first summit in 2017. It launches the One Planet Lab as a new collaboration tool. Lab members develop innovative solutions for environmentally friendly economic activities. Its work feeds into the 2019 UN Climate Summit.
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The IPCC Special Report on The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate underlines the relevance of oceans and the cryosphere for live on earth. It analyses “projected responses of the ocean and cryosphere to past and current human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and ongoing global warming include climate feedbacks, changes over decades to millennia that cannot be avoided, thresholds of abrupt change, and irreversibility”.
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The IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land focuses on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems.
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The Africa Climate Week in Accra/Ghana encourages the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and climate action to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
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The Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week in Salvador/Brazil gathers public and private sector actors to underline the support for stepping-up climate action.
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The Asia-Pacific Climate Week in Shenzhen/China showcases regional climate related activities.
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The UN Climate Action Summit seeks to boost national ambition and to accelerate actions to implement the Paris Agreement one year before states need to enhance national pledges under the Paris Agreement.
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The EU Commission presents its proposal for a European Green Deal COM(2019)640. Aiming at an eco-friendly transition of the European economy, it foresees climate neutrality by 2050, preservation of biodiversity, a circular economy.
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The regional One Planet Summit in Nairobi seeks "to identify innovative solutions for the energy transition and the preservation of forests in Africa. With several Heads of State and Government attending, leaders of the initiatives taken as part of the One Planet movement announced their commitments for the continent".
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The EU Commission publishes the Farm to Fork Strategy on Sustainable Food COM(2020)381. It includes a rewarded removal of CO2 emissions and the advancement of energy efficiency and is accompanied by an action plan of 27 legislative and non-legislative measures.
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The EU Commission presents its Renovation Wave Strategy COM(2020)662 to increase energy and resource efficiency in renovated buildings. The strategy is endorsed by the EU Council in 2021.
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The EU Commission proposes a regulation for a European Climate Law COM(2020) 80 as part of the European Green Deal.
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The IPCC Working Group I Report ‘Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis’ “assesses new scientific evidence relevant for a world whose climate system is rapidly changing, overwhelmingly due to human influence”.
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Various extreme weather events in Gernamy, Greece, Haiti, Italy and the USA
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In its new EU Climate Law Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 the EU pledges to become climate neutral by 2050. The regulation sets a legally binding EU-wide common target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a 55% reduction target by 2030 as compared to 1990 levels.
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The EU adopts a new Climate Adaptation Strategy COM/2021/82.
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The EU adopts its Just Transition Fund Regulation (EU) 2021/1056. The Fund supports the most affected territories in the transition towards a low-carbon economy. The Fund is part of the Just Transition Mechanism.
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The EU Commission presents a new Sustainable Blue Economy Plan COM(2021)240. It outlines how to achieve climate neutrality and zero pollution in ocean policy and the blue economy.
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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 26 in Glasgow seeks to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement
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The Asia-Pacific Climate Week seeks to enhance cooperation and the integration of climate action into global pandemic recovery.
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The Africa Climate Week seeks to enhance cooperation and the integration of climate action into global pandemic recovery.
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The Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week seeks to enhance cooperation and the integration of climate action into global pandemic recovery.
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The EU Commission’s Communication of the Fit for 55 package is published.
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The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report will be released.
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The Middle East and North Africa Climate Week is foreseen to become “a platform to advance organizations’ work by engaging with key regional actors and play a critical role in bringing regional needs and outcomes to the global climate change processes”.
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