Negotiation Process
2009 has brought an unprecedented level of activity to reach a new global deal in time for Copenhagen. Within the UNFCCC process only, parties have met 6 times in 2009, 5 times just since June.
International negotiations on climate change take place in many different venues and settings. However, all these negotiation streams are loosely coordinated to feed into the global negotiations hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which oversees the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.
The UNFCCC itself has two major negotiation tracks, the AWG-KP, established at COP11 in Montreal to discuss future commitments for developed countries (under the Kyoto Protocol in particular) and the AWG-LCA established at COP 13 in Bali to look at a range of commitments from all parties to the Convention.
Outside the UNFCCC negotiations, talks take place in settings such as the Major Economies Forum, and the agreements reached between small groupings of nations can help build political consensus in the UNFCCC negotiations.
For a visual overview of the process, click the thumbnail to the left to view a map of how the different pieces connect.
Formal Negotiations–UNFCCC
For a more detailed look at the structure of the UNFCCC, please view the UNCCC Structure page.
Yvo de Boer
Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer, plays a key role in managing the UNFCCC negotiating process throughout the year, supported by the Secretariat staff.
The Two Negotiating Tracks:
Kyoto Protocol/AWG-KP: Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol
Convention/Bali Action Plan (AWG-LCA): Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action
Negotiation Sessions in 2009
- “Bonn I” March 29-April 8, Bonn,Germany
- “Bonn II” June 1-12, Bonn, Germany
- “Bonn III” August 10-14, Bonn, Germany
- Bangkok, September 28-October 9th
- Barcelona–November 2nd -November 9th
- “Pre-COP”, November 16-17, Copenhagen
- COP15, December 7-18th
Consensus Building
Multi-Lateral Discussions
Climate change and the Copenhagen negotiations have been high on the agenda of a series of international forums in 2009, particularly at the The Head of State engagement in 2009 parallels similar high-level activity in the lead up to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.
Key Milestones
Group of 8 (G8)-July 8-10 L’Aquila, Italy
Group of 20 (G20)-September 18-20, Pittsburg, USA
Major Economies Forum (MEF)-July 9, L’Alquila, Italy
UN General Assembly–Special Session on Climate Change (September 22nd, New York)