UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Climate Change

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ActNow Climate Campaign
https://www.un.org/en/actnow/

UN Entities & Related Bodies

• United Nations & Climate Change: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/
• United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC):  http://unfccc.int/
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): http://www.ipcc.ch/

UN Events

• COP 28 – UN Climate Change Conference – United Arab Emirates Nov/Dec 2023: http://unfccc.int/cop28, https://www.cop28.com/, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop28
• Explainer: What’s COP28 and why is it important? (UN News, 28 November 2023): https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/11/1144042
  • FAO at COP28: https://www.fao.org/climate-change/fao-at-cop-28/en
  • IAEA @COP28: Events and Event Participation 2023: https://www.iaea.org/topics/climate-change/the-iaea-and-cop/cop28
  • IFAD at COP28: https://www.ifad.org/en/web/latest/-/ifad-at-cop28
  • The ILO at COP28: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/news/WCMS_900130/lang–en/index.htm
  • IMF at COP28: https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/climate-change/COP28
  • IMO at COP 28: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/IMO-at-COP-28.aspx
  • IMO – Human Mobility at COP 28: https://environmentalmigration.iom.int/human-mobility-cop-28
  • IOM – COP28: Think of Tomorrow, Act Today: https://www.iom.int/cop28-think-tomorrow-act-today
  • ITU – Green Digital Action at COP28: https://www.itu.int/initiatives/green-digital-action-atcop28/
  • OCHA – Media Advisory: UN relief chief to lead OCHA delegation to COP28 (27 November 2023): https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/world/media-advisory-un-relief-chief-lead-ocha-delegation-cop28
  • OHCHR – Advancing Equity and Rights for People and States on the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis, 15 November 2023: https://www.ohchr.org/en/events/events/2023/advancing-equity-and-rights-people-and-states-frontlines-climate-crisis
  • UN Women – Women’s Resilience Disasters Knowledge Hub & COP28: https://wrd.unwomen.org/engage/events/cop28-un-climate-change-conference
  • UN-Habitat on the road to COP28: Advancing urban climate resilience and action: https://unhabitat.org/un-habitat-on-the-road-to-cop28-advancing-urban-climate-resilience-and-action
  • UNCTAD at the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP28: https://unctad.org/unctad-at-cop28
  • UNDP – COP28: The UN Climate Change Conference; The Global Stocktake: a moment for critical reflection: https://www.undp.org/events/cop28-un-climate-change-conference
  • UNDRR’s Call to Action at COP28 – #ZeroClimateDisasters by 2030: https://www.undrr.org/climate-action-and-disaster-risk-reduction/undrr-cop28
  • ECA at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28): https://www.uneca.org/eca-events/cop28
  • UNECE @ COP28: https://unece.org/cop28
  • ECLAC – Climate Financing Needs for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Just Transition, the Link between Nature and Climate, and the Escazú Agreement are the Priority Issues that ECLAC Will Promote at COP28 (30 November 2023): https://www.cepal.org/en/pressreleases/climate-financing-needs-latin-america-and-caribbean-just-transition-link-between
  • UNEP at the climate COP28: https://www.unep.org/unep-climate-cop28
  • ESCAP at COP28: https://www.unescap.org/cop28
  • UNESCO – Greening Education Partnership: https://www.unesco.org/en/education-sustainable-development/greening-future
  • UNESCWA – Towards COP 28: Second Arab Regional Forum on Climate Finance, 6 November 2023: https://www.unescwa.org/events/towards-cop-28-second-arab-regional-forum-climate-finance
  • UNFPA urges leaders to address gendered, discriminatory impacts of climate change at COP28 (29 October 2023): https://www.unfpa.org/news/unfpa-urges-leaders-address-gendered-discriminatory-impacts-climate-change-cop28
  • UNICEF – The Blue Dot Art Competition for COP 28 – Painting Our Climate Legacy: A Call to Young Artists Worldwide: https://www.unicef.org/mena/the-blue-dot-art-competition-for-cop28
  • UNIDO at COP28: https://www.unido.org/unido-cop28
  • UNODC at the climate COP28: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/climateCOP/index.html
  • UNU at COP28: https://unu.edu/cop28
  • What’s WFP doing at COP28?: https://www.wfp.org/news/whats-wfp-doing-cop28
  • WMO Activities at COP28: https://wmo.int/media/announcement/wmo-activities-cop28
  • WTO Secretariat at Climate Change COP28: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/envir_e/wto_cop28_e.htm
  • The World Bank Group at COP28: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/the-world-bank-at-cop28

• Climate Ambition Summit, 20 September 2023, United Nations Headquarters, New York: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-ambition-summit
• General Assembly, Seventy-seventh Session, 64th & 65th Meetings, 29 March 2023
  General Assembly adopts resolution requesting International Court of Justice provide advisory opinion on states’ obligations concerning climate change (GA/12497): https://press.un.org/en/2023/ga12497.doc.htm
  • A/RES/77/276: https://www.un.org/en/ga/77/resolutions.shtml
• Security Council Meeting, 14 February 2023: Threats to international peace and security – Sea-level rise: implications for international peace and security: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2023
• Security Council Meeting, 9 December 2021: Maintenance of international
  peace and security: security in the context of terrorism and climate change: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2021
• High-level thematic debate on “Delivering climate action: for people, planet and prosperity”, 26 October 2021: https://www.un.org/pga/76/event/deliver_climate_action/, https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1e/k1enkaxyxk, https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1104052
• Security Council Meeting, 23 September 2021: Maintenance of international peace and security – Climate and security: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2021
• Climate Summit, 23 September 2019: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/2019-climate-action-summit
  • Actions not words: what was promised at the UN’s landmark climate summit? (23 September 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/09/1047112
• High Level Meeting on Climate and Sustainable Development for All, 29 March 2019: https://www.un.org/pga/73/event/climate-and-sustainable-development-for-all/
• Security Council Meeting, 25 January 2019: Maintenance of international peace and security – Addressing the impacts of climate-related disasters on international peace and security: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2019
• Security Council Meeting, 11 July 2018: Maintenance of international peace and security – Understanding and addressing climate-related security risks: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2018
• Intersessional panel discussion on human rights, climate change, migrants and persons displaced across international borders, 6 October 2017: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/PanelClimateMigrants.aspx
• High-Level SDG Event “Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Agenda”, 23 March 2017: https://bit.ly/2nqVQES
• Expert Meeting on Climate Change and Human Rights, 6-7 October 2016: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/HRAndClimateChange/Pages/ClimateChange.aspx
• Paris Agreement Signing Ceremony – 22 April 2016: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/parisagreement22april/
• General Assembly High-Level Event on Climate Change (New York, 29 June 2015):
  http://www.un.org/pga/290615_hle-climate-change/
• Climate Summit – September 2014: https://www.un.org/press/en/highlights/climatesummit2014
• General Assembly Thematic Debate Sustainable Development and Climate Change: Practical Solutions in the Energy Water Nexus, 16 May 2013: https://www.un.org/en/ga/president/67/pdf/calendar/20130516-energywater.pdf
• Security Council Meeting, 20 July 2011: Maintenance of international peace and security – Impact of climate change: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2011

UN Treaties, Declarations and selected UN documents

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/conveng.pdf
• Kyoto Protocol: https://unfccc.int/process/the-kyoto-protocol
• Bali Road Map: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/pastconferences/bali-climate-change-conference-december-2007/statements-and-resources/Bali-Road-Map-Documents
• Cancun Agreements: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/the-cancun-agreements
• Durban Outcomes: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/outcomes-of-the-durban-conference
• Doha Climate Gateway: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/the-doha-climate-gateway
• Warsaw Outcomes: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/outcomes-of-the-warsaw-conference
• Lima Call for Climate Action: http://undocs.org/FCCC/CP/2014/10/Add.1
• Paris Agreement: https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/what-is-the-paris-agreement
• Marrakech Action Proclamation for Our Climate and Sustainable Development: http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/marrakech_nov_2016/application/pdf/marrakech_action_proclamation.pdf
• Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action: http://unfccc.int/files/paris_agreement/application/pdf/marrakech_partnership_for_global_climate_action.pdf
• Key achievements from COP23: https://cop23.com.fj/key-achievements-cop23/
• Katowice Climate Package: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/katowice-climate-package
• The Glasgow Climate Pact – Key Outcomes from COP26: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-glasgow-climate-pact-key-outcomes-from-cop26
• Five Key Takeaways from COP27: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/sharm-el-sheikh-climate-change-conference-november-2022/five-key-takeaways-from-cop27
• Five Key Takeaways from COP27: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/sharm-el-sheikh-climate-change-conference-november-2022/five-key-takeaways-from-cop27
• UN documents on “climate change” – click here

Selected Statements and Speeches by UN Officials

• Amid climate collapse, leaders must act further, faster to limit global temperature rise, Secretary-General says at World Meteorological Organization Report Launch (SG/SM/22058, 30 November 2023): https://press.un.org/en/environmental-issues-and-sustainable-development
• Melting of Antarctica Sea Ice endangers planet, lives worldwide, Secretary-General warns, stressing leaders must act, break cycle in upcoming Climate Conference (SG/SM/22051, 27 November 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm22051.doc.htm
• ‘Young people are the climate fighters our world needs’, Secretary-General tells Conference, urging all to never give up, fight for future they deserve (SG/SM/22049, 26 November 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm22049.doc.htm
• Urging leaders to tear out ‘Poisoned root of climate crisis — fossil fuels’, Secretary-General warns environment report shows dangerous emissions gap (SG/SM/22039, 20 November 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm22039.doc.htm
• Stressing ‘1.5°C limit is possible’, Secretary-General urges International Climate and Energy Summit to expedite fossil-fuel phase-out, net-zero timelines (SG/SM/21967, 2 October 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21967.doc.htm
• ‘Small Island States do not lack ambition, they lack finance’, Secretary-General tells Alliance, calling for Developed Countries to fulfil climate action support (SG/SM/21959, 22 September 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21959.doc.htm
• Grappling with chaotic weather patterns, debt distress, Least Developed Countries need climate, financial justice, Secretary-General Urges at Ministerial Meeting (SG/SM/21958, 21 September 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21958.doc.htm
• Calling Climate Ambition Summit ‘Climate Hope Summit’, Secretary-General urges ‘first-doers’ to take no prisoners, achieve 1.5°C limit (SG/SM/21954, 20 September 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21954.doc.htm
• Global Leaders must take action to reduce emissions, create just transition plans, Secretary-General tells Climate Ambition Summit (SG/SM/21951, 20 September 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21951.doc.htm
• Climate breakdown has begun with hottest summer on record, Secretary-General warns, calling on Leaders to ‘turn up the heat now’ for climate solutions (SG/SM/21926, 6 September 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21926.doc.htm
• Developed countries must deliver climate justice, Secretary-General tells African Youth Assembly, underlining need ‘to turn up the volume in calling for change’ (SG/SM/21923, 1 September 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21923.doc.htm
• Make youth participation ‘the norm, rather than the exception’, to shape climate resilient future, Secretary-General urges Governments on International Day (SG/SM/21899, 7 August 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21899.doc.htm
• Cooperation, unity key to managing climate crisis, technological challenges, Secretary-General tells Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SG/SM/21862, 4 July 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21862.doc.htm
• World in dangerous waters on climate, Secretary-General warns Marine Environment Protection Committee, stressing their decisions could steer to safer future (SG/SM/21859, 3 July 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21859.doc.htm
• In Briefing on Climate Ambition Summit, Deputy Secretary-General stresses still possible to limit rise in global temperature if we take action (DSG/SM/1857, 9 June 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/dsgsm1857.doc.htm
• ‘We know the truth’ about climate crisis, Secretary-General tells Petersberg Dialogue, urging states accelerate net-zero deadlines (SG/SM/21784, 2 May 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21784.doc.htm
• ‘Now is the time to speak up, louder than ever’ for climate action, says Secretary-General at Time Earth Awards Event (SG/SM/21778, 25 April 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21778.doc.htm
• Geopolitical divisions ‘must not torpedo world’s climate fight for 1.5°C’, Secretary-General tells Major Economies Forum (SG/SM/21769, 20 April 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21769.doc.htm
• International Court’s Advisory Opinions on climate change obligations of states ‘of tremendous importance’, Secretary-General tells General Assembly (SG/SM/21750, 29 March 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21750.doc.htm
• Secretary-General calls on states to tackle climate change ‘time bomb’ through new solidarity pact, acceleration agenda, at launch of Intergovernmental Panel Report (SG/SM/21730, 20 March 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21730.doc.htm
• Point world towards solutions, show need to end global heating with cold, hard facts, Secretary-General tells Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (SG/SM/21722, 13 March 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21722.doc.htm
• Secretary-General urges big greenhouse gas emitters to form climate solidarity pact, stressing renewables ‘only credible path forward’ for securing humankind’s future (SG/SM/21656, 14 January 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21656.doc.htm
• Global community must be honest about brutal injustice of loss felt by developing countries due to climate change, Secretary-General tells Conference on Pakistan (SG/SM/21650, 9 January 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21650.doc.htm
• Building on efforts to tackle humanitarian, climate crises key for rescuing sustainable development goals, Deputy Secretary-General tells Member States in Geneva (DSG/SM/1820, 12 December 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/dsgsm1820.doc.htm
• Calling for Sustainable Development Goals Stimulus Package, Secretary-General warns Finance Forum window to prevent climate catastrophe ‘is fast closing’ (SG/SM/21614, 2 December 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21614.doc.htm
• World must ‘not relent in fight for climate justice, climate ambition’, Secretary-General tells Twenty-Seventh Conference of Parties (SG/SM/21595, 20 November 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21595.doc.htm
• Statement by the Secretary-General at the conclusion of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, 19 November 2022: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022-11-19/statement-the-secretary-general-the-conclusion-of-cop27%C2%A0-sharm-el-sheikh%C2%A0%C2%A0
• Secretary-General’s remarks at COP27 stakeout [as delivered], 17 November 2022: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2022-11-17/secretary-generals-remarks-cop27-stakeout-delivered
• Detailed global emissions inventory ‘a critical resource for business leaders working to decarbonize supply chains’, says Secretary-General (SG/SM/21578, 9 November 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21578.doc.htm
• Bogus net-zero pledges ‘rank deception’, sham must end, Secretary-General Stresses at launch of Report by High-Level Expert Group on Non-State Actors’ Commitments (SG/SM/21576, 8 November 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21576.doc.htm
• To reach climate goals humanity must cooperate or perish, Secretary-General warns, calling for solidarity pact among all nations, at implementation summit opening (SG/SM/21573, 7 November 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21573.doc.htm
• 24 hours’ notice of perilous climate event in at-risk communities can save lives, cut damage 30 per cent, Secretary-General says at ‘Early Warnings for All’ Plan Launch (SG/SM/21574, 7 November 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21574.doc.htm
• Warning World Meteorological Organization Report ‘Chronicle of Climate Chaos’, Secretary-General urges ambitious action to answer planet’s distress signal (SG/SM/21572, 6 November 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21572.doc.htm

Further information

• UN News Centre on Climate and Environment: https://news.un.org/en/news/topic/climate-change
  • 8 reasons not to give up hope – and take climate action (4 April 2022): https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115512
• International Court of Justice – Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change: https://www.icj-cij.org/case/187
• The Climate Dictionary: An everyday guide to climate change (2 February 2023): https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/climate-dictionary-everyday-guide-climate-change
• UNDP Campaign: Don’t choose extinction – A message to humanity from Frankie the dinosaur: https://dontchooseextinction.com/
• Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts:
  http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climatechange/
  http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change-2/
• Global Issues on the UN Agenda – Climate Change:
  https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/climate-change
• Historic UN Human Rights case opens door to climate change asylum claims (21 January 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/01/historic-un-human-rights-case-opens-door-climate-change-asylum-claims
• UN child rights committee voices support for children campaigning on climate change (27 September 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2019/09/un-child-rights-committee-voices-support-children-campaigning-climate-change
• Countries violate rights over climate change, argue youth activists in landmark UN complaint (24 September 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/09/1047292
• Audiovisual Library of International Law
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992 / Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes: http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/ccc/ccc.html
  • Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1997 / Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes: http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/kpccc/kpccc.html
  • Paris Agreement, 2015 / Introductory note by Daniel Bodansky: https://legal.un.org/avl/ha/pa/pa.html
  • Air, Atmosphere and Climate Change / by Paolo Galizzi: https://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Galizzi_EL.html
  • Protection of the Atmosphere and Codification and Progressive Development of International Law / by Shinya Murase: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Murase_EL.html
  • Climate Change and the Protection of the Ocean / by Dr. Nilüfer Oral: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Oral_EL.html
  • The International Climate Change Regime: Evolution and Challenges / by Ms. Lavanya Rajamani: https://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Rajamani_EL.html
  • The International Law of Climate Change after the Paris Agreement / by Mr. Jorge E. Viñuales: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Vinuales_EL.html
  • Climate Change and Population Movement / by Mr. Walter Kälin: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Kaelin_DPR.html
• Dag Hammarskjöld Library Digitization Blog – Convention on Climate Change: https://www.un.org/en/library/digitization-update-conv-climate-change
• UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library Research Guides – Climate Change – A Global Issue: http://research.un.org/en/climate-change
• United Nations Library Geneva Research Guide on Climate Change: https://libraryresources.unog.ch/climatechange
• Ask Dag! What is the United Nations doing about climate change?
  https://ask.un.org/faq/332864
• Ask Dag! What is the history of the Paris Agreement (2015)?
  https://ask.un.org/faq/120272
• INTERVIEW: “Climate change is in everybody’s backyard” – Robert Redford (UN News Centre, 1 July 2015):  https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/07/503332-interview-climate-change-everybodys-backyard-robert-redford

Selection of Publications available online

• UN News Centre on Climate Change: https://news.un.org/en/news/topic/climate-change
• UNEP Publications on Climate Change: http://www.unep.org/publications/
• UNFCCC Publications: https://unfccc.int/about-us/press-and-media/publications
• IPCC Reports (including IPCC Assessment Reports): https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/
• The Emissions Gap Report 2023 (UNEP): https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2023
• World Bank Publications: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/browse/subject?startsWith=C
• General recommendation No. 37 (2018) on the gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction in the context of climate change (CEDAW/C/GC/37, 13 March 2018):
  http://undocs.org/CEDAW/C/GC/37
• Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development (DESA, October 2015): http://bit.ly/1icXmUr
• Turn Down the Heat Reports (World Bank): http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange/publication/turn-down-the-heat
• Protecting People Crossing Borders in the Context of Climate Change: Normative Gaps and Possible Approaches (UNHCR, February 2012): http://www.unhcr.org/4f33f1729.html