Governing and subsidiary bodies

The Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement established three governing bodies: the COP for the Convention, the CMP for the Kyoto Protocol and the CMA for the Paris Agreement. The Bureau of the COP, the CMP and the CMA supports the work of the governing bodies. The UNFCCC secretariat provides organizational support and technical expertise.
Two permanent subsidiary bodies – the SBSTA and the SBI – assist the governing bodies.
The COP, the CMP and the CMA furthermore establish other ad hoc subsidiary bodies as deemed necessary to address specific issues.

Credit: UN Climate Change/ Kiara Worth

Governing bodies

Conference of the Parties (COP)

The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements.

Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP)

The Conference of the Parties, the supreme body of the Convention, shall serve as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. All States that are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are represented at the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), while States that are not Parties participate as observers. The CMP oversees the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and takes decisions to promote its effective implementation.

Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA)

The Conference of the Parties, the supreme body of the Convention, shall serve as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement. All States that are Parties to the Paris Agreement are represented at the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA), while States that are not Parties participate as observers. The CMA oversees the implementation of the Paris Agreement and takes decisions to promote its effective implementation.

Process management body and secretariat

Bureau of the COP, CMP, and CMA

The Bureau supports the work of the governing bodies through the provision of advice and guidance regarding the ongoing work under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement, the organization of their sessions and the operation of the secretariat. The Bureau serves during the sessions and also between session.

About the secretariat

The UNFCCC secretariat provides organizational support and technical expertise to the UNFCCC negotiations and institutions and facilitates the flow of authoritative information on the implementation of the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. This includes the development and effective implementation of innovative approaches to mitigate climate change and drive sustainable development.

United Nations institutional linkage

The United Nations serves as Depository for the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol (including its amendments) and the Paris Agreement. The secretariat is institutionally linked to the United Nations without being integrated into any programme and is administered under United Nations rules and regulations.

Subsidiary bodies

Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA)

The SBSTA assists the governing bodies through the provision of timely information and advice on scientific and technological matters as they relate to the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. In addition, the SBSTA cooperates with relevant international organizations on scientific, technological and methodological questions.

Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI)

The SBI assists the governing bodies in the assessment and review of the implementation of the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. In addition, the SBI considers the biennial work programmes for the secretariat, which provide the strategic direction on how the secretariat can best serve the Parties and the UNFCCC process.

Bodies That Have Concluded Their Work

Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP)

Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA)

Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP)

Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA)

UN Climate Change

Constituted bodies

The many decisions taken by the governing bodies COP, CMP and CMA at their annual sessions also establish a number of institutional arrangements and specialised bodies with limited membership, often referred to as "constituted bodies", to support Parties and the intergovernmental process.