          UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (1992)

    The Parties to this Convention,

    Acknowledging that change in the Earth's climate and its adverse effects
    are a common concern of humankind,

    Concerned that human activities have been substantially increasing the
    atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, that these increases
    enhance the natural greenhouse effect, and that this will result on
    average in an additional warming of the Earth's surface and atmosphere
    and may adversely affect natural ecosystems and humankind,

    Noting that the largest share of historical and current global emissions
    of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries, that per
    capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low and
    that the share of global emissions originating in developing countries
    will grow to meet their social and development needs,

    Aware of the role and importance in terrestrial and marine ecosystems of
    sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases,

    Noting that there are many uncertainties in predictions of climate
    change, particularly with regard to the timing, magnitude and regional
    patterns thereof,

    Acknowledging that the global nature of climate change calls for the
    widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in
    an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with
    their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective
    capabilities and their social and economic conditions,

    Recalling the pertinent provisions of the Declaration of the United
    Nations Conference on the Human Environment, adopted at Stockholm on 16
    June 1972,

    Recalling also that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the
    United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign
    right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental
    and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that
    activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to
    the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national
    jurisdiction,

    Reaffirming the principle of sovereignty of States in international
    cooperation to address climate change,

    Recognizing that States should enact effective environmental legislation,
    that environmental standards, management objectives and priorities should
    reflect the environmental and developmental context to which they apply,
    and that standards applied by some countries may be inappropriate and of
    unwarranted economic and social cost to other countries, in particular
    developing countries,

    Recalling the provisions of General Assembly resolution 44/228 of 22
    December 1989 on the United Nations Conference on Environment and
    Development, and resolutions 43/53 of 6 December 1988, 44/207 of 22
    December 1989, 45/212 of 21 December 1990 and 46/169 of 19 December 1991
    on protection of global climate for present and future generations of
    mankind,

    Recalling also the provisions of General Assembly resolution 44/206 of 22
    December 1989 on the possible adverse effects of sea level rise on
    islands and coastal areas, particularly low-lying coastal areas and the
    pertinent provisions of General Assembly resolution 44/172 of 19 December
    1989 on the implementation of the Plan of Action to Combat
    Desertification,

    Recalling further the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
    Layer, 1985, and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
    Ozone Layer, 1987, as adjusted and amended on 29 June 1990,

    Noting the Ministerial Declaration of the Second World Climate Conference
    adopted on 7 November 1990,

    Conscious of the valuable analytical work being conducted by many States
    on climate change and of the important contributions of the World
    Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and
    other organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as
    well as other international and intergovernmental bodies, to the exchange
    of results of scientific research and the coordination of research,

    Recognizing that steps required to understand and address climate change
    will be environmentally, socially and economically most effective if they
    are based on relevant scientific, technical and economic considerations
    and continually re-evaluated in the light of new findings in these areas,

    Recognizing that various actions to address climate change can be
    justified economically in their own right and can also help in solving
    other environmental problems,

    Recognizing also the need for developed countries to take immediate
    action in a flexible manner on the basis of clear priorities, as a first
    step towards comprehensive response strategies at the global, national
    and, where agreed, regional levels that take into account all greenhouse
    gases, with due consideration of their relative contributions to the
    enhancement of the greenhouse effect,

    Recognizing further that low-lying and other small island countries,
    countries with low-lying coastal, arid and semi-arid areas or areas
    liable to floods, drought and desertification, and developing countries
    with fragile mountainous ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the
    adverse effects of climate change,

    Recognizing the special difficulties of those countries, especially
    developing countries, whose economies are particularly dependent on
    fossil fuel production, use and exportation, as a consequence of action
    taken on limiting greenhouse gas emissions,

    Affirming that responses to climate change should be coordinated with
    social and economic development in an integrated manner with a view to
    avoiding adverse impacts on the latter, taking into full account the
    legitimate priority needs of developing countries for the achievement of
    sustained economic growth and the eradication of poverty,

    Recognizing that all countries, especially developing countries, need
    access to resources required to achieve sustainable social and economic
    development and that, in order for developing countries to progress
    towards that goal, their energy consumption will need to grow taking into
    account the possibilities for achieving greater energy efficiency and for
    controlling greenhouse gas emissions in general, including through the
    application of new technologies on terms which make such an application
    economically and socially beneficial,

    Determined to protect the climate system for present and future
    generations,

    Have agreed as follows:

                                  ARTICLE 1

                                 DEFINITIONS *

         [ *  Titles of articles are included solely to assist the reader.]

    For the purposes of this Convention:

    1. "Adverse effects of climate change" means changes in the physical
    environment or biota resulting from climate change which have significant
    deleterious effects on the composition, resilience or productivity of
    natural and managed ecosystems or on the operation of socio-economic
    systems or on human health and welfare.

    2. "Climate change" means a change of climate which is attributed
    directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of
    the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate
    variability observed over comparable time periods.

    3. "Climate system" means the totality of the atmosphere, hydrosphere,
    biosphere and geosphere and their interactions.

    4. "Emissions" means the release of greenhouse gases and/or their
    precursors into the atmosphere over a specified area and period of time.

    5. "Greenhouse gases" means those gaseous constituents of the atmosphere,
    both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and re-emit infrared
    radiation.

    6. "Regional economic integration organization" means an organization
    constituted by sovereign States of a given region which has competence in
    respect of matters governed by this Convention or its protocols and has
    been duly authorized, in accordance with its internal procedures, to
    sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the instruments concerned.

    7. "Reservoir" means a component or components of the climate system
    where a greenhouse gas or a precursor of a greenhouse gas is stored.

    8. "Sink" means any process, activity or mechanism which removes a
    greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas from the
    atmosphere.

    9. "Source" means any process or activity which releases a greenhouse
    gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.

                                  ARTICLE 2

                                  OBJECTIVE

    The ultimate objective of this Convention and any related legal
    instruments that the Conference of the Parties may adopt is to achieve,
    in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention,
    stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a
    level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the
    climate system.  Such a level should be achieved within a time frame
    sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to
    ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic
    development to proceed in a sustainable manner.

                                  ARTICLE 3

                                  PRINCIPLES

    In their actions to achieve the objective of the Convention and to
    implement its provisions, the Parties shall be guided, inter alia, by the
    following:

    1. The Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of
    present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and
    in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and
    respective capabilities.  Accordingly, the developed country Parties
    should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects
    thereof.

    2. The specific needs and special circumstances of developing country
    Parties, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse
    effects of climate change, and of those Parties, especially developing
    country Parties, that would have to bear a disproportionate or abnormal
    burden under the Convention, should be given full consideration.

    3. The Parties should take precautionary measures to anticipate, prevent
    or minimize the causes of climate change and mitigate its adverse
    effects.  Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack
    of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for
    postponing such measures, taking into account that policies and measures
    to deal with climate change should be cost-effective so as to ensure
    global benefits at the lowest possible cost.  To achieve this, such
    policies and measures should take into account different socio-economic
    contexts, be comprehensive, cover all relevant sources, sinks and
    reservoirs of greenhouse gases and adaptation, and comprise all economic
    sectors.  Efforts to address climate change may be carried out
    cooperatively by interested Parties.

    4. The Parties have a right to, and should, promote sustainable
    development.  Policies and measures to protect the climate system against
    human-induced change should be appropriate for the specific conditions of
    each Party and should be integrated with national development programmes,
    taking into account that economic development is essential for adopting
    measures to address climate change.

    5. The Parties should cooperate to promote a supportive and open
    international economic system that would lead to sustainable economic
    growth and development in all Parties, particularly developing country
    Parties, thus enabling them better to address the problems of climate
    change.  Measures taken to combat climate change, including unilateral
    ones, should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable
    discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade.

                                  ARTICLE 4

                                 COMMITMENTS

    1. All Parties, taking into account their common but differentiated
    responsibilities and their specific national and regional development
    priorities, objectives and circumstances, shall:

       (a) Develop, periodically update, publish and make available to the
    Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Article 12, national
    inventories of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks
    of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, using
    comparable methodologies to be agreed upon by the Conference of the
    Parties;

       (b) Formulate, implement, publish and regularly update national and,
    where appropriate, regional programmes containing measures to mitigate
    climate change by addressing anthropogenic emissions by sources and
    removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal
    Protocol, and measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate
    change;

       (c) Promote and cooperate in the development, application and
    diffusion, including transfer, of technologies, practices and processes
    that control, reduce or prevent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse
    gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol in all relevant sectors,
    including the energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and
    waste management sectors;

       (d) Promote sustainable management, and promote and cooperate in the
    conservation and enhancement, as appropriate, of sinks and reservoirs of
    all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, including
    biomass, forests and oceans as well as other terrestrial, coastal and
    marine ecosystems;

       (e) Cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate
    change; develop and elaborate appropriate and integrated plans for
    coastal zone management, water resources and agriculture, and for the
    protection and rehabilitation of areas, particularly in Africa, affected
    by drought and desertification, as well as floods;

       (f) Take climate change considerations into account, to the extent
    feasible, in their relevant social, economic and environmental policies
    and actions, and employ appropriate methods, for example impact
    assessments, formulated and determined nationally, with a view to
    minimizing adverse effects on the economy, on public health and on the
    quality of the environment, of projects or measures undertaken by them to
    mitigate or adapt to climate change;

       (g) Promote and cooperate in scientific, technological, technical,
    socio-economic and other research, systematic observation and development
    of data archives related to the climate system and intended to further
    the understanding and to reduce or eliminate the remaining uncertainties
    regarding the causes, effects, magnitude and timing of climate change and
    the economic and social consequences of various response strategies;

       (h) Promote and cooperate in the full, open and prompt exchange of
    relevant scientific, technological, technical, socio-economic and legal
    information related to the climate system and climate change, and to the
    economic and social consequences of various response strategies;

       (i) Promote and cooperate in education, training and public awareness
    related to climate change and encourage the widest participation in this
    process, including that of non-governmental organizations; and

       (j) Communicate to the Conference of the Parties information related
    to implementation, in accordance with Article 12.

    2. The developed country Parties and other Parties included in annex I
    commit themselves specifically as provided for in the following:

       (a) Each of these Parties shall adopt national policies and take
    corresponding measures on the mitigation of climate change, by limiting
    its anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting and
    enhancing its greenhouse gas sinks and reservoirs.  These policies and
    measures will demonstrate that developed countries are taking the lead in
    modifying longer-term trends in anthropogenic emissions consistent with
    the objective of the Convention, recognizing that the return by the end
    of the present decade to earlier levels of anthropogenic emissions of
    carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal
    Protocol would contribute to such modification, and taking into account
    the differences in these Parties' starting points and approaches,
    economic structures and resource bases, the need to maintain strong and
    sustainable economic growth, available technologies and other individual
    circumstances, as well as the need for equitable and appropriate
    contributions by each of these Parties to the global effort regarding
    that objective.  These Parties may implement such policies and measures
    jointly with other Parties and may assist other Parties in contributing
    to the achievement of the objective of the Convention and, in particular,
    that of this subparagraph;

       (b) In order to promote progress to this end, each of these Parties
    shall communicate, within six months of the entry into force of the
    Convention for it and periodically thereafter, and in accordance with
    Article 12, detailed information on its policies and measures referred to
    in subparagraph (a) above, as well as on its resulting projected
    anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse
    gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol for the period referred to
    in subparagraph (a), with the aim of returning individually or jointly to
    their 1990 levels these anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and
    other greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol.  This
    information will be reviewed by the Conference of the Parties, at its
    first session and periodically thereafter, in accordance with Article 7;

       (c) Calculations of emissions by sources and removals by sinks of
    greenhouse gases for the purposes of subparagraph (b) above should take
    into account the best available scientific knowledge, including of the
    effective capacity of sinks and the respective contributions of such
    gases to climate change.  The Conference of the Parties shall consider
    and agree on methodologies for these calculations at its first session
    and review them regularly thereafter;

       (d) The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first session, review
    the adequacy of subparagraphs (a) and (b) above.  Such review shall be
    carried out in the light of the best available scientific information and
    assessment on climate change and its impacts, as well as relevant
    technical, social and economic information.  Based on this review, the
    Conference of the Parties shall take appropriate action, which may
    include the adoption of amendments to the commitments in subparagraphs
    (a) and (b) above.  The Conference of the Parties, at its first session,
    shall also take decisions regarding criteria for joint implementation as
    indicated in subparagraph (a) above.  A second review of subparagraphs
    (a) and (b) shall take place not later than 31 December 1998, and
    thereafter at regular intervals determined by the Conference of the
    Parties, until the objective of the Convention is met;

       (e) Each of these Parties shall :

         (i)  coordinate as appropriate with other such Parties, relevant
              economic and administrative instruments developed to achieve
              the objective of the Convention; and

         (ii) identify and periodically review its own policies and
              practices which encourage activities that lead to greater
              levels of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases not
              controlled by the Montreal Protocol than would otherwise
              occur;

       (f) The Conference of the Parties shall review, not later than 31
    December 1998, available information with a view to taking decisions
    regarding such amendments to the lists in annexes I and II as may be
    appropriate, with the approval of the Party concerned;

       (g) Any Party not included in annex I may, in its instrument of
    ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, or at any time
    thereafter, notify the Depositary that it intends to be bound by
    subparagraphs (a) and (b) above.  The Depositary shall inform the other
    signatories and Parties of any such notification.

    3. The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in
    annex II shall provide new and additional financial resources to meet the
    agreed full costs incurred by developing country Parties in complying
    with their obligations under Article 12, paragraph 1. They shall also
    provide such financial resources, including for the transfer of
    technology, needed by the developing country Parties to meet the agreed
    full incremental costs of implementing measures that are covered by
    paragraph 1 of this Article and that are agreed between a developing
    country Party and the international entity or entities referred to in
    Article 11, in accordance with that Article. The implementation of these
    commitments shall take into account the need for adequacy and
    predictability in the flow of funds and the importance of appropriate
    burden sharing among the developed country Parties.

    4. The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in
    annex II shall also assist the developing country Parties that are
    particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in
    meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects.

    5. The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in
    annex II shall take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and
    finance, as appropriate, the transfer of, or access to, environmentally
    sound technologies and know-how to other Parties, particularly developing
    country Parties, to enable them to implement the provisions of the
    Convention.  In this process, the developed country Parties shall support
    the development and enhancement of endogenous capacities and technologies
    of developing country Parties.  Other Parties and organizations in a
    position to do so may also assist in facilitating the transfer of such
    technologies.

    6. In the implementation of their commitments under paragraph 2 above, a
    certain degree of flexibility shall be allowed by the Conference of the
    Parties to the Parties included in annex I undergoing the process of
    transition to a market economy, in order to enhance the ability of these
    Parties to address climate change, including with regard to the
    historical level of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases not
    controlled by the Montreal Protocol chosen as a reference.

    7. The extent to which developing country Parties will effectively
    implement their commitments under the Convention will depend on the
    effective implementation by developed country Parties of their
    commitments under the Convention related to financial resources and
    transfer of technology and will take fully into account that economic and
    social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding
    priorities of the developing country Parties.

    8. In the implementation of the commitments in this Article, the Parties
    shall give full consideration to what actions are necessary under the
    Convention, including actions related to funding, insurance and the
    transfer of technology, to meet the specific needs and concerns of
    developing country Parties arising from the adverse effects of climate
    change and/or the impact of the implementation of response measures,
    especially on:

     (a) Small island countries;
     (b) Countries with low-lying coastal areas;
     (c) Countries with arid and semi-arid areas, forested areas and areas
         liable to forest decay;
     (d) Countries with areas prone to natural disasters;
     (e) Countries with areas liable to drought and desertification;
     (f) Countries with areas of high urban atmospheric pollution;
     (g) Countries with areas with fragile ecosystems, including mountainous
         ecosystems;
     (h) Countries whose economies are highly dependent on income generated
         from the production, processing and export, and/or on consumption
         of fossil fuels and associated energy-intensive products; and
     (i) Land-locked and transit countries.

    Further, the Conference of the Parties may take actions, as appropriate,
    with respect to this paragraph.

    9. The Parties shall take full account of the specific needs and special
    situations of the least developed countries in their actions with regard
    to funding and transfer of technology.

    10. The Parties shall, in accordance with Article 10, take into
    consideration in the implementation of the commitments of the Convention
    the situation of Parties, particularly developing country Parties, with
    economies that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of the
    implementation of measures to respond to climate change.  This applies
    notably to Parties with economies that are highly dependent on income
    generated from the production, processing and export, and/or consumption
    of fossil fuels and associated energy-intensive products and/or the use
    of fossil fuels for which such Parties have serious difficulties in
    switching to alternatives.

                                  ARTICLE 5

                    RESEARCH AND SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION

    In carrying out their commitments under Article 4, paragraph 1(g), the
    Parties shall:

       (a) Support and further develop, as appropriate, international and
    intergovernmental programmes and networks or organizations aimed at
    defining, conducting, assessing and financing research, data collection
    and systematic observation, taking into account the need to minimize
    duplication of effort;

       (b) Support international and intergovernmental efforts to strengthen
    systematic observation and national scientific and technical research
    capacities and capabilities, particularly in developing countries, and to
    promote access to, and the exchange of, data and analyses thereof
    obtained from areas beyond national jurisdiction; and

       (c) Take into account the particular concerns and needs of developing
    countries and cooperate in improving their endogenous capacities and
    capabilities to participate in the efforts referred to in subparagraphs
    (a) and (b) above.

                                  ARTICLE 6

                 EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PUBLIC AWARENESS

    In carrying out their commitments under Article 4, paragraph 1(i), the
    Parties shall:

       (a) Promote and facilitate at the national and, as appropriate,
    subregional and regional levels, and in accordance with national laws and
    regulations, and within their respective capacities:

          (i) the development and implementation of educational and public
              awareness programmes on climate change and its effects;

         (ii) public access to information on climate change and its
              effects;

        (iii) public participation in addressing climate change and its
              effects and developing adequate responses; and

         (iv) training of scientific, technical and managerial personnel.

       (b) Cooperate in and promote, at the international level, and, where
    appropriate, using existing bodies:

          (i) the development and exchange of educational and public
              awareness material on climate change and its effects; and

         (ii) the development and implementation of education and training
              programmes, including the strengthening of national
              institutions and the exchange or secondment of personnel to
              train experts in this field, in particular for developing
              countries.

                                  ARTICLE 7

                         CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES

    1. A Conference of the Parties is hereby established.

    2. The Conference of the Parties, as the supreme body of this Convention,
    shall keep under regular review the implementation of the Convention and
    any related legal instruments that the Conference of the Parties may
    adopt, and shall make, within its mandate, the decisions necessary to
    promote the effective implementation of the Convention.  To this end, it
    shall:

       (a) Periodically examine the obligations of the Parties and the
    institutional arrangements under the Convention, in the light of the
    objective of the Convention, the experience gained in its implementation
    and the evolution of scientific and technological knowledge;

       (b) Promote and facilitate the exchange of information on measures
    adopted by the Parties to address climate change and its effects, taking
    into account the differing circumstances, responsibilities and
    capabilities of the Parties and their respective commitments under the
    Convention;

       (c) Facilitate, at the request of two or more Parties, the
    coordination of measures adopted by them to address climate change and
    its effects, taking into account the differing circumstances,
    responsibilities and capabilities of the Parties and their respective
    commitments under the Convention.

       (d) Promote and guide, in accordance with the objective and provisions
    of the Convention, the development and periodic refinement of comparable
    methodologies, to be agreed on by the Conference of the Parties, inter
    alia, for preparing inventories of greenhouse gas emissions by sources
    and removals by sinks, and for evaluating the effectiveness of measures
    to limit the emissions and enhance the removals of these gases;

       (e) Assess, on the basis of all information made available to it in
    accordance with the provisions of the Convention, the implementation of
    the Convention by the Parties, the overall effects of the measures taken
    pursuant to the Convention, in particular environmental, economic and
    social effects as well as their cumulative impacts and the extent to
    which progress towards the objective of the Convention is being achieved;

       (f) Consider and adopt regular reports on the implementation of the
    Convention and ensure their publication;

       (g) Make recommendations on any matters necessary for the
    implementation of the Convention;

       (h) Seek to mobilize financial resources in accordance with Article 4,
    paragraphs 3, 4 and 5, and Article 11;

       (i) Establish such subsidiary bodies as are deemed necessary for the
    implementation of the Convention;

       (j) Review reports submitted by its subsidiary bodies and provide
    guidance to them;

       (k) Agree upon and adopt, by consensus, rules of procedure and
    financial rules for itself and for any subsidiary bodies;

       (l) Seek and utilize, where appropriate, the services and cooperation
    of, and information provided by, competent international organizations
    and intergovernmental and non-governmental bodies; and

       (m) Exercise such other functions as are required for the achievement
    of the objective of the Convention as well as all other functions
    assigned to it under the Convention.

    3. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first session, adopt its
    own rules of procedure as well as those of the subsidiary bodies
    established by the Convention, which shall include decision-making
    procedures for matters not already covered by decision- making procedures
    stipulated in the Convention.  Such procedures may include specified
    majorities required for the adoption of particular decisions.

    4. The first session of the Conference of the Parties shall be convened
    by the interim secretariat referred to in Article 21 and shall take place
    not later than one year after the date of entry into force of the
    Convention.  Thereafter, ordinary sessions of the Conference of the
    Parties shall be held every year unless otherwise decided by the
    Conference of the Parties.

    5. Extraordinary sessions of the Conference of the Parties shall be held
    at such other times as may be deemed necessary by the Conference, or at
    the written request of any Party, provided that, within six months of the
    request being communicated to the Parties by the secretariat, it is
    supported by at least one-third of the Parties.

    6. The United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International
    Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State member thereof or observers
    thereto not Party to the Convention, may be represented at sessions of
    the Conference of the Parties as observers.  Any body or agency, whether
    national or international, governmental or non-governmental, which is
    qualified in matters covered by the Convention, and which has informed
    the secretariat of its wish to be represented at a session of the
    Conference of the Parties as an observer, may be so admitted unless at
    least one-third of the Parties present object.  The admission and
    participation of observers shall be subject to the rules of procedure
    adopted by the Conference of the Parties.

                                  ARTICLE 8

                                 SECRETARIAT

    1. A secretariat is hereby established.

    2. The functions of the secretariat shall be:

       (a) To make arrangements for sessions of the Conference of the Parties
    and its subsidiary bodies established under the Convention and to provide
    them with services as required;

       (b) To compile and transmit reports submitted to it;

       (c) To facilitate assistance to the Parties, particularly developing
    country Parties, on request, in the compilation and communication of
    information required in accordance with the provisions of the Convention;

       (d) To prepare reports on its activities and present them to the
    Conference of the Parties;

       (e) To ensure the necessary coordination with the secretariats of
    other relevant international bodies;

       (f) To enter, under the overall guidance of the Conference of the
    Parties, into such administrative and contractual arrangements as may be
    required for the effective discharge of its functions; and

       (g) To perform the other secretariat functions specified in the
    Convention and in any of its protocols and such other functions as may be
    determined by the Conference of the Parties.

    3. The Conference of the Parties, at its first session, shall designate a
    permanent secretariat and make arrangements for its functioning.

                                  ARTICLE 9

          SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

    1. A subsidiary body for scientific and technological advice is hereby
    established to provide the Conference of the Parties and, as appropriate,
    its other subsidiary bodies with timely information and advice on
    scientific and technological matters relating to the Convention.  This
    body shall be open to participation by all Parties and shall be
    multidisciplinary.  It shall comprise government representatives
    competent in the relevant field of expertise.  It shall report regularly
    to the Conference of the Parties on all aspects of its work.

    2. Under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties, and drawing upon
    existing competent international bodies, this body shall:

       (a) Provide assessments of the state of scientific knowledge relating
    to climate change and its effects;

       (b) Prepare scientific assessments on the effects of measures taken in
    the implementation of the Convention;

       (c) Identify innovative, efficient and state- of-the-art technologies
    and know-how and advise on the ways and means of promoting development
    and/or transferring such technologies;

       (d) Provide advice on scientific programmes, international cooperation
    in research and development related to climate change, as well as on ways
    and means of supporting endogenous capacity-building in developing
    countries; and

       (e) Respond to scientific, technological and methodological questions
    that the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies may put to
    the body.

    3. The functions and terms of reference of this body may be further
    elaborated by the Conference of the Parties.

                                  ARTICLE 10

                    SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

    1.  A subsidiary body for implementation is hereby established to assist
    the Conference of the Parties in the assessment and review of the
    effective implementation of the Convention.  This body shall be open to
    participation by all Parties and comprise government representatives who
    are experts on matters related to climate change.  It shall report
    regularly to the Conference of the Parties on all aspects of its work.

    2. Under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties, this body shall:

       (a) Consider the information communicated in accordance with Article
    12, paragraph 1, to assess the overall aggregated effect of the steps
    taken by the Parties in the light of the latest scientific assessments
    concerning climate change;

       (b) Consider the information communicated in accordance with Article
    12, paragraph 2, in order to assist the Conference of the Parties in
    carrying out the reviews required by Article 4, paragraph 2(d); and

       (c) Assist the Conference of the Parties, as appropriate, in the
    preparation and implementation of its decisions.

                                  ARTICLE 11

                             FINANCIAL MECHANISM

    1. A mechanism for the provision of financial resources on a grant or
    concessional basis, including for the transfer of technology, is hereby
    defined.  It shall function under the guidance of and be accountable to
    the Conference of the Parties, which shall decide on its policies,
    programme priorities and eligibility criteria related to this Convention.
    Its operation shall be entrusted to one or more existing international
    entities.

    2. The financial mechanism shall have an equitable and balanced
    representation of all Parties within a transparent system of governance.

    3. The Conference of the Parties and the entity or entities entrusted
    with the operation of the financial mechanism shall agree upon
    arrangements to give effect to the above paragraphs, which shall include
    the following:

       (a) Modalities to ensure that the funded projects to address climate
    change are in conformity with the policies, programme priorities and
    eligibility criteria established by the Conference of the Parties;

       (b) Modalities by which a particular funding decision may be
    reconsidered in light of these policies, programme priorities and
    eligibility criteria;

       (c) Provision by the entity or entities of regular reports to the
    Conference of the Parties on its funding operations, which is consistent
    with the requirement for accountability set out in paragraph 1 above; and

       (d) Determination in a predictable and identifiable manner of the
    amount of funding necessary and available for the implementation of this
    Convention and the conditions under which that amount shall be
    periodically reviewed.

    4. The Conference of the Parties shall make arrangements to implement the
    above mentioned provisions at its first session, reviewing and taking
    into account the interim arrangements referred to in Article 21,
    paragraph 3, and shall decide whether these interim arrangements shall be
    maintained.  Within four years thereafter, the Conference of the Parties
    shall review the financial mechanism and take appropriate measures.

    5. The developed country Parties may also provide and developing country
    Parties avail themselves of, financial resources related to the
    implementation of the Convention through bilateral, regional and other
    multilateral channels.

                                  ARTICLE 12

           COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION

    1. In accordance with Article 4, paragraph 1, each Party shall
    communicate to the Conference of the Parties, through the secretariat,
    the following elements of information:

       (a) A national inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources and
    removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal
    Protocol, to the extent its capacities permit, using comparable
    methodologies to be promoted and agreed upon by the Conference of the
    Parties;

       (b) A general description of steps taken or envisaged by the Party to
    implement the Convention; and

       (c) Any other information that the Party considers relevant to the
    achievement of the objective of the Convention and suitable for inclusion
    in its communication, including, if feasible, material relevant for
    calculations of global emission trends.

    2. Each developed country Party and each other Party included in annex I
    shall incorporate in its communication the following elements of
    information:

       (a) A detailed description of the policies and measures that it has
    adopted to implement its commitment under Article 4, paragraphs 2(a) and
    2(b); and

       (b) A specific estimate of the effects that the policies and measures
    referred to in subparagraph (a) immediately above will have on
    anthropogenic emissions by its sources and removals by its sinks of
    greenhouse gases during the period referred to in Article 4, paragraph
    2(a).

    3. In addition, each developed country Party and each other developed
    Party included in annex II shall incorporate details of measures taken in
    accordance with Article 4, paragraphs 3, 4 and 5.

    4. Developing country Parties may, on a voluntary basis, propose projects
    for financing, including specific technologies, materials, equipment,
    techniques or practices that would be needed to implement such projects,
    along with, if possible, an estimate of all incremental costs, of the
    reductions of emissions and increments of removals of greenhouse gases,
    as well as an estimate of the consequent benefits.

    5. Each developed country Party and each other Party included in annex I
    shall make its initial communication within six months of the entry into
    force of the Convention for that Party.  Each Party not so listed shall
    make its initial communication within three years of the entry into force
    of the Convention for that Party, or of the availability of financial
    resources in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 3.  Parties that are
    least developed countries may make their initial communication at their
    discretion.  The frequency of subsequent communications by all Parties
    shall be determined by the Conference of the Parties, taking into account
    the differentiated timetable set by this paragraph.

    6. Information communicated by Parties under this Article shall be
    transmitted by the secretariat as soon as possible to the Conference of
    the Parties and to any subsidiary bodies concerned.  If necessary, the
    procedures for the communication of information may be further considered
    by the Conference of the Parties.

    7. From its first session, the Conference of the Parties shall arrange
    for the provision to developing country Parties of technical and
    financial support, on request, in compiling and communicating information
    under this Article, as well as in identifying the technical and financial
    needs associated with proposed projects and response measures under
    Article 4.  Such support may be provided by other Parties, by competent
    international organizations and by the secretariat, as appropriate.

    8. Any group of Parties may, subject to guidelines adopted by the
    Conference of the Parties, and to prior notification to the Conference of
    the Parties, make a joint communication in fulfilment of their
    obligations under this Article, provided that such a communication
    includes information on the fulfilment by each of these Parties of its
    individual obligations under the Convention.

    9. Information received by the secretariat that is designated by a Party
    as confidential, in accordance with criteria to be established by the
    Conference of the Parties, shall be aggregated by the secretariat to
    protect its confidentiality before being made available to any of the
    bodies involved in the communication and review of information.

    10. Subject to paragraph 9 above, and without prejudice to the ability of
    any Party to make public its communication at any time, the secretariat
    shall make communications by Parties under this Article publicly
    available at the time they are submitted to the Conference of the
    Parties.

                                  ARTICLE 13

            RESOLUTION OF QUESTIONS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION

    The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first session, consider the
    establishment of a multilateral consultative process, available to
    Parties on their request, for the resolution of questions regarding the
    implementation of the Convention.

                                  ARTICLE 14

                            SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

    1. In the event of a dispute between any two or more Parties concerning
    the interpretation or application of the Convention, the Parties
    concerned shall seek a settlement of the dispute through negotiation or
    any other peaceful means of their own choice.

    2. When ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the Convention, or
    at any time thereafter, a Party which is not a regional economic
    integration organization may declare in a written instrument submitted to
    the Depositary that, in respect of any dispute concerning the
    interpretation or application of the Convention, it recognizes as
    compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any
    Party accepting the same obligation:

       (a) Submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice,
    and/or

       (b) Arbitration in accordance with procedures to be adopted by the
    Conference of the Parties as soon as practicable, in an annex on
    arbitration.

    A Party which is a regional economic integration organization may make a
    declaration with like effect in relation to arbitration in accordance
    with the procedures referred to in subparagraph (b) above.

    3. A declaration made under paragraph 2 above shall remain in force until
    it expires in accordance with its terms or until three months after
    written notice of its revocation has been deposited with the Depositary.

    4. A new declaration, a notice of revocation or the expiry of a
    declaration shall not in any way affect proceedings pending before the
    International Court of Justice or the arbitral tribunal, unless the
    parties to the dispute otherwise agree.

    5. Subject to the operation of paragraph 2 above, if after twelve months
    following notification by one Party to another that a dispute exists
    between them, the Parties concerned have not been able to settle their
    dispute through the means mentioned in paragraph 1 above, the dispute
    shall be submitted, at the request of any of the parties to the dispute,
    to conciliation.

    6. A conciliation commission shall be created upon the request of one of
    the parties to the dispute.  The commission shall be composed of an equal
    number of members appointed by each party concerned and a chairman chosen
    jointly by the members appointed by each party.  The commission shall
    render a recommendatory award, which the parties shall consider in good
    faith.

    7. Additional procedures relating to conciliation shall be adopted by the
    Conference of the Parties, as soon as practicable, in an annex on
    conciliation.

    8. The provisions of this Article shall apply to any related legal
    instrument which the Conference of the Parties may adopt, unless the
    instrument provides otherwise.

                                  ARTICLE 15

                        AMENDMENTS TO THE CONVENTION

    1. Any Party may propose amendments to the Convention.

    2. Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted at an ordinary session
    of the Conference of the Parties.  The text of any proposed amendment to
    the Convention shall be communicated to the Parties by the secretariat at
    least six months before the meeting at which it is proposed for adoption.
    The secretariat shall also communicate proposed amendments to the
    signatories to the Convention and, for information, to the Depositary.

    3. The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement on any proposed
    amendment to the Convention by consensus.  If all efforts at consensus
    have been exhausted, and no agreement reached, the amendment shall as a
    last resort be adopted by a three-fourths majority vote of the Parties
    present and voting at the meeting. The adopted amendment shall be
    communicated by the secretariat to the Depositary, who shall circulate it
    to all Parties for their acceptance.

    4. Instruments of acceptance in respect of an amendment shall be
    deposited with the Depositary.  An amendment adopted in accordance with
    paragraph 3 above shall enter into force for those Parties having
    accepted it on the ninetieth day after the date of receipt by the
    Depositary of an instrument of acceptance by at least three-fourths of
    the Parties to the Convention.

    5. The amendment shall enter into force for any other Party on the
    ninetieth day after the date on which that Party deposits with the
    Depositary its instrument of acceptance of the said amendment.

    6. For the purposes of this Article, "Parties present and voting" means
    Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote.

                                  ARTICLE 16

            ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF ANNEXES TO THE CONVENTION

    1.  Annexes to the Convention shall form an integral part thereof and,
    unless otherwise expressly provided, a reference to the Convention
    constitutes at the same time a reference to any annexes thereto.  Without
    prejudice to the provisions of Article 14, paragraphs 2(b) and 7, such
    annexes shall be restricted to lists, forms and any other material of a
    descriptive nature that is of a scientific, technical, procedural or
    administrative character.

    2. Annexes to the Convention shall be proposed and adopted in accordance
    with the procedure set forth in Article 15, paragraphs 2, 3, and 4.

    3. An annex that has been adopted in accordance with paragraph 2 above
    shall enter into force for all Parties to the Convention six months after
    the date of the communication by the Depositary to such Parties of the
    adoption of the annex, except for those Parties that have notified the
    Depositary, in writing, within that period of their non-acceptance of the
    annex.  The annex shall enter into force for Parties which withdraw their
    notification of non-acceptance on the ninetieth day after the date on
    which withdrawal of such notification has been received by the
    Depositary.

    4. The proposal, adoption and entry into force of amendments to annexes
    to the Convention shall be subject to the same procedure as that for the
    proposal, adoption and entry into force of annexes to the Convention in
    accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 above.

    5. If the adoption of an annex or an amendment to an annex involves an
    amendment to the Convention, that annex or amendment to an annex shall
    not enter into force until such time as the amendment to the Convention
    enters into force.

                                  ARTICLE 17

                                  PROTOCOLS

    1. The Conference of the Parties may, at any ordinary session, adopt
    protocols to the Convention.

    2. The text of any proposed protocol shall be communicated to the Parties
    by the secretariat at least six months before such a session.

    3. The requirements for the entry into force of any protocol shall be
    established by that instrument.

    4. Only Parties to the Convention may be Parties to a protocol.

    5. Decisions under any protocol shall be taken only by the Parties to the
    protocol concerned.

                                  ARTICLE 18

                                 RIGHT TO VOTE

    1. Each Party to the Convention shall have one vote, except as provided
    for in paragraph 2 below.

    2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their
    competence, shall exercise their right to vote with a number of votes
    equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to the
    Convention.  Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if
    any of its member States exercises its right, and vice versa.

                                  ARTICLE 19

                                  DEPOSITARY

    The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the Depositary of
    the Convention and of protocols adopted in accordance with Article 17.

                                  ARTICLE 20

                                   SIGNATURE

    This Convention shall be open for signature by States Members of the
    United Nations or of any of its specialized agencies or that are Parties
    to the Statute of the International Court of Justice and by regional
    economic integration organizations at Rio de Janeiro, during the United
    Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and thereafter at
    United Nations Headquarters in New York from 20 June 1992 to 19 June
    1993.

                                  ARTICLE 21

                            INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS

    1. The secretariat functions referred to in Article 8 will be carried out
    on an interim basis by the secretariat established by the General
    Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 45/212 of 21 December
    1990, until the completion of the first session of the Conference of the
    Parties.

    2. The head of the interim secretariat referred to in paragraph 1 above
    will cooperate closely with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
    to ensure that the Panel can respond to the need for objective scientific
    and technical advice.  Other relevant scientific bodies could also be
    consulted.

    3. The Global Environment Facility of the United Nations Development
    Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme and the International
    Bank for Reconstruction and Development shall be the international entity
    entrusted with the operation of the financial mechanism referred to in
    Article 11 on an interim basis.  In this connection, the Global
    Environment Facility should be appropriately restructured and its
    membership made universal to enable it to fulfil the requirements of
    Article 11.

                                  ARTICLE 22

                RATIFICATION, ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL OR ACCESSION

    1. The Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance, approval
    or accession by States and by regional economic integration
    organizations.  It shall be open for accession from the day after the
    date on which the Convention is closed for signature.  Instruments of
    ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with
    the Depositary.

    2. Any regional economic integration organization which becomes a Party
    to the Convention without any of its member States being a Party shall be
    bound by all the obligations under the Convention.  In the case of such
    organizations, one or more of whose member States is a Party to the
    Convention, the organization and its member States shall decide on their
    respective responsibilities for the performance of their obligations
    under the Convention.  In such cases, the organization and the member
    States shall not be entitled to exercise rights under the Convention
    concurrently.

    3. In their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or
    accession, regional economic integration organizations shall declare the
    extent of their competence with respect to the matters governed by the
    Convention.  These organizations shall also inform the Depositary, who
    shall in turn inform the Parties, of any substantial modification in the
    extent of their competence.

                                  ARTICLE 23

                               ENTRY INTO FORCE

    1. The Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the
    date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance,
    approval or accession.

    2. For each State or regional economic integration organization that
    ratifies, accepts or approves the Convention or accedes thereto after the
    deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval
    or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day
    after the date of deposit by such State or regional economic integration
    organization of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or
    accession.

    3. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 above, any instrument deposited
    by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as
    additional to those deposited by States members of the organization.

                                  ARTICLE 24

                                 RESERVATIONS

    No reservations may be made to the Convention.

                                  ARTICLE 25

                                  WITHDRAWAL

    1. At any time after three years from the date on which the Convention
    has entered into force for a Party, that Party may withdraw from the
    Convention by giving written notification to the Depositary.

    2. Any such withdrawal shall take effect upon expiry of one year from the
    date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal, or
    on such later date as may be specified in the notification of withdrawal.

    3. Any Party that withdraws from the Convention shall be considered as
    also having withdrawn from any protocol to which it is a Party.

                                  ARTICLE 26

                               AUTHENTIC TEXTS

    The original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English,
    French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be
    deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized to that effect,
    have signed this Convention.

    DONE at New York this ninth day of May one thousand nine hundred and
    ninety-two.

                                    ANNEX I

    Australia
    Austria
    Belarus a/
    Belgium
    Bulgaria a/
    Canada
    Czechoslovakia a/
    Denmark
    European Community
    Estonia a/
    Finland
    France
    Germany
    Greece
    Hungary a/
    Iceland
    Ireland
    Italy
    Japan
    Latvia a/
    Lithuania a/
    Luxembourg
    Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Norway
    Poland a/
    Portugal
    Romania a/
    Russian Federation a/
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Turkey
    Ukraine a/
    United Kingdom of Great
      Britain and Northern Ireland
    United States of America

      a/ Countries that are undergoing the process of transition to a market
         economy.

                                  ANNEX II

    Australia
    Austria
    Belgium
    Canada
    Denmark
    European Community
    Finland
    France
    Germany
    Greece
    Iceland
    Ireland
    Italy
    Japan
    Luxembourg
    Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Norway
    Portugal
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Turkey
    United Kingdom of Great
      Britain and Northern Ireland
    United States of America