History of the Program

HISTORY OF THE CLIMATE TALKS

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle challenges posed by climate change

Conference of the Parties (COP)

Highest decision making authority of the UNFCCC that meets annually to negotiate climate change policy

Kyoto Protocol

Adopted in 1993 at COP3 in Kyoto, Japan to set binding emission targets for 37 industrialized nations and the European community to reduce greenhouse case (GHG) emissions
The United States is the only industrialized nation that has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol

COP13

The ACS participated as a UN-accredited NGO for the first time in Bali, Indonesia where the Bali Roadmap was adopted (2007).
This roadmap was created to establish a "post-Kyoto" Protocol at COP15 in Copenhagen, Denmark (2009).

COP14

COP15

Copenhagen saw the largest gathering of heads-of-state ever outside of the UN in New york.
The Copenhagen Accord was adopted to outline the future progression of the COP.

COP16

In recognition of the 2011 International Year of Chemistry, the American Chemical Society's (ACS) COmmittee on Environmental Improvement sponsored two student delegates to represent the Society in Cancun, Mexico.
Students Leah Block and ANthony Tomaine from York College of Pennsylvania blogged for C&E News under Editor-in-Chief Rudy Baum, using social networking technologies to reach out to their peers.
A positive outcome was reached in Cancun as 194 parties excluding Bolivia adopted the Cancun Accord a "balanced package of decisions that set all governments more firmly on the path towards a low-emissions future and support enhanced action on climate change in the developing world."

COP17

5 student delegates were selected to attend the UN Climate Talks in Durban, South Africa.
The conference in Durban established a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol for parties at the conference.

COP18

Four student delegates attended the talks in oil-rich Qatar.
The global youth population was a major influence, with numerous demonstrations aimed at policy makers to
encourage them to work together to quickly agree on policies that would legally bind countries
to mitigate their emissions.

COP19

Six students attended the talks in Warsaw, Poland using social media outreach to expand their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram following.
The conference outcomes were minimal, gearing up for negotiations at COP20 which would be used to craft and agree upon a new binding commitment at COP21 in Paris in 2015.

COP20

Nine students attended the talks in Lima, Peru and focused on continuing work with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and blogging.
Once again, the conference was centered on preparing a draft for COP21 in Paris in December 2015.