The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Text of the Convention

Convention signatories & ratifications (Parties in chronological order as at 7 September 2000)

Beginner's Guide to the Convention (html)

Beginner's Guide to the Convention (pdf)

Climate Change Information kit (new)

Signatories & Ratification to the Kyoto Protocol, (Parties in alphabetical order) as at 26-October-2001.

Introduction to the Kyoto Protocol

Explanation of Status of Signatories & Ratification of the Convention:

The text of the Convention was adopted at the United Nations Headquarters, New York on 9 May 1992; it was opened for signature in Rio de Janeiro from 4 to 14 June 1992, and thereafter at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 20 June 1992 to 19 June 1993. By that date the Convention had received 166 signatures. The Convention entered into force on 21 March 1994. Those States that have not signed the Convention may accede to it at any time.

For those States that ratify, accept or approve the Convention or accede thereto after the date of entry into force, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of the deposit by such State of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

The list below contains the latest information concerning dates of signature and ratification received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as Depository of the Convention. The dates in the column entitled "date of ratification" are those of the receipt of the instrument of ratification (R), acceptance (At), approval (Ap) or accession (Ac).
(For an explanation of these legal terms, please follow this link )

Status of Signatories to the Kyoto Protocol:

The text of the Protocol to the UNFCCC was adopted at the third session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997; it was open for signature from 16 March 1998 to 15 March 1999 at United Nations Headquarters, New York. By that date the Protocol had received 84 signatures. Those Parties that have not yet signed the Kyoto Protocol may accede to it at any time.

The Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by Parties to the Convention. It shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date on which not less than 55 Parties to the Convention, incorporating Annex I Parties which accounted in total for at least 55 % of the total carbon dioxide emissions for 1990 from that group, have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

The list below contains the latest information concerning dates of signature and ratification received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as Depository of the Kyoto Protocol. The dates in the column entitled "date of ratification" are those of the receipt of the instrument of ratification (R), acceptance (At), approval (Ap) or accession (Ac).
(For an explanation of these legal terms, please follow this link )