International:


United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Objectives:
To regulate levels of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere, so as to avoid the occurrence of climate change on a level that would impede sustainable economic development, or compromise initiatives in food production.

Summary of Provisions:

• Definition of the basic terminology of the Convention such as "climate change", "climate system", "emissions", "greenhouse gases", "reservoir","sink"& "source".
  
• To protect the climate system for present and future generations. To provide appropriate assistance to the developing countries in enabling them to fulfil the terms of the Convention. Parties to work in cooperation, so as to obtain maximum benefit from the initiatives in the control of the climate system
  
• Commitments assured under the Convention are:
  (a) Parties to prepare national inventories on greenhouse gas emissions and on actions taken to remove them.
  (b) To formulate and implement programmes for the control of climate change
  (c) To undertake cooperation in technology and incorporate suitable policies for the control of climate change in national plans.
  (d) To undertake education and training policies that will enhance public awareness in relation to climate change.
  (e) To take special measures to limit the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and to enhance the capacity of their sinks and reservoirs for the stabilization of such gases.
  (f) To accord financial support to developing country parties, to enable them to comply with the terms of the Convention.
• Parties to cooperate in the establishment and promotion of networks and programmes of research into and systematic observation of climate change.
  
• To establish a Conference of Parties, to be the Supreme body of the Convention and to oversee the implementation of the Convention.
  
• To establish a financial mechanism, to provide resources on a grant/ concessional basis, for the fulfillment of the objectives of the Convention
  
• To develop procedures for the settlement of disputes.

Date of Adoption:
9.5.1992 (New York)

Date of entry into force:
21.3.1994

Arab Participants:
Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, U.A.E. Yemen