| International Efforts | Taiwan's Current Condition |

 | Taipei City's Response |

In 1988, the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) and World Meteorological Organization established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

In 2001, the 3^rd Assessment Report of the IPCC stated: If no efforts are taken to prevent the emission of greenhouse gases, the global surface temperature in 2100 will be 1.4~5.8℃ higher then in 1990, and the sea level will rise 9~88cm. Also, the projected increase in carbon dioxide concentration since 280ppm from the Industrial Revolution, 360 ppm in 1992, will be 540~970 ppm in 2100, 90~250% of the amount in 1750. If the amount of carbon dioxide concentration is to be maintained at twice the amount compared to before the Industrial Revolution, then the current carbon dioxide emission has to be lowered be more than half.

 Figure: http://sd.erl.itri.org.tw/fccc/ch/intro/intro_3.htm

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

I.Cause: The UN General Assembly, in response to suggestions from the Second World Meteorology Convention, passed and established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change (INC/FCCC), and granted it the authority to draw up treaties and any other necessary legal tools.

II.Conferences: The INC/FCCC held its first conference in Washington from February 4^th~14^th, 1991, formally bringing the problem of climate change onto the UN stage. May, 1992, after 5 conferences and over 150 countries negotiating, The UN's New York headquarters passes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC, on May 9^th, 1992.

III.Explanation: On June, 1992, 155 countries signed the treaty at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, or UNCED, also known as the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. After ratification by the 50^th nation on December 21^st, 1993, the treaty was put into force on March 21^st, 1994. This treaty was put in the UN headquarters in New York from June 20^th, 1992, till June 19^th, 1993, open to any UN nation, UN institution's member nation, international court's parties, or regional economic organizations to sign.

I.Date: December 1^st~11^th, 1997

II.Conference: UNFCCC 3^rd Conference of the Parties (COP-3)

III.Location: Kyoto, Japan

IV.Description: The legally binding Kyoto Protocol was passes at the COP-3, including 28 articles and 2 annexes.

V.Main contents:

A.Reduction Plan and Goals: Annex 1 countries including Morocco and Liechtenstein, should reach reduction goals by 2008~2012, through differentiated responsibilities: European Union and East Europe nations 8%, US 7%, Japan, Canada, Hungary, Poland 6%, and Iceland, Australia, and Norway, 8-10%.

B.Control of six greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide should be controlled at the levels for 1990, while HFCs, PFCs, and SF₆,should be controlled at the levels for 1995.

C.Three flexible mechanisms, emissions trading, joint implementations, and Clean Development Mechanisms were put in place.

D.The capabilities for forests to absorb greenhouse gases were incorporated in the reduction calculations, meaning that reforesting and deforestation after 1990 would count into the net reduction amount.

E.Signing: From March 16^th 1998 to March 15^th 1999, at the UN New York headquarters, the treaty was open for signature, and afterwards was opened for entering, acceptance, ratification, and recognition.

F.Entered into force: After ratification by 55 countries, and after ratifying Annex 1 members produced 55% of carbon dioxide emission of all Annex 1 members, the treaty was put into effect on February 16^th, 2005.

In the face of many important climate topics, the international community has produced many international treaties to work together and change the global environment. The Montreal Protocol's enforcement has effectively stopped the production of CFC's, and is the best example of the international community's efforts on dealing with environmental problems. This shows the effectiveness of international treaties and trade sanctions, and also encourages the establishment, ratification, and enforcement of international treaties. Below are some of the treaties passed in recent years:

 Resource:NTU, Global Change Research Center  http://140.115.123.30/gis/globalc/CHAP0108.htm