The transition to carbon neutrality.
where do we stand?

History of Climate Negotiations

International climate negotiations began in 1979 with the first World Climate Conference. However, it was not until 1992, with the creation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), that the importance of climate change and its anthropogenic causes were officially recognised.

Since then, COPs bringing together the ‘Convention of Parties’ have been held regularly, enabling the signatory states to take stock of the application of the Convention and to negotiate new commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

10 Dates of International Climate Negotiations

This article traces climate negotiations from the first World Climate Conference to the present day.

A Chronology of Climate Negotiations Since 1988

This article reviews all the key dates in the climate negotiations since the creation of the IPCC in 1988.

The targets

FRANCE

Target 1: 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 1990).

Target 2: Increase the share of renewable energies to 32% by 2030.

EUROPE

Target 1: At least 40% reduction in emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. In April 2021, the European Commission proposed increasing this target from 40% to 55%.

Target 2: To increase the share of renewable energies to at least 32% by 2030.

our current trajectory

Between 1990 and 2017, France reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 18%. However, this reduction was largely due to the decline in our industrial activity following the 2008 crisis, which caused 15% of French industries to disappear or relocate. In addition, although emissions from the building and agriculture sectors have stagnated, while those from the transport sector have increased.

Given these factors and the rate at which GHG emissions are falling, we are not on the right trajectory to meet our 2030 commitment of a 40% reduction in our emissions compared to 1990.

As for the global situation, GHG emissions continued to rise 64% between 1990 and 2017.