Climate change: Key dates on the way to Paris accord
Blueprint was agreed in Geneva by 195 countries gathered under the umbrella of the UNFCCC
GENEVA (AFP) - Here are key dates leading up to the Conference of Parties (COP) in Paris in December that must adopt a global pact on curbing climate change.
A blueprint was agreed in Geneva on Friday by 195 countries gathered under the umbrella of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- First quarter of 2015: Deadline for those nations "ready to do so" to submit pledges for cutting carbon emissions. These commitments are at the heart of the drive to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels.
- May 31, 2015: Deadline for making available to parties the official draft accord in all the languages of the UN.
- June 1-11, 2015: Annual, half-yearly UNFCCC meeting in Bonn.
- July 7-10, 2015: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) hosts an international conference on the latest science of climate change.
- August 31-September 4, 2015: Third round of formal UNFCCC talks for the year, in Bonn.
- October 19-23, 2015: Fourth round of formal UNFCCC talks in Bonn.
- October/November: Ministerial-level "pre-COP" discussions (date and venue to be confirmed)
- By November 1, 2015: UNFCCC secretariat to prepare a report on the aggregate effect of countries emissions-curbing pledges on the 2 C goal.
- November 30-December 11: The UNFCCC s 21st Conference of Parties, or COP 21, to be held in the Paris suburb of Le Bourget.
