2013 Reports

Compilation of International Authorities Supporting Specific Measures to Combat Climate Change

Kinniburgh, Fiona

This document is a compilation of international authorities that endorse or require various specific measures to combat climate change. Not included here are the large number of general obligations for states to limit the pollution they emit or allow. Rather the focus is on specific kinds of mitigation and adaptation measures. The document comprises a non-exhaustive compilation of extracts from various international agreements, environmental treaties and resolutions / declarations of international organizations, as well as reports from several respected international bodies. While the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and decisions of the Conference of the Parties contain the most authoritative and directly applicable obligations regarding climate change, other international conventions, declarations, agreements and charters also give legal support for some of these specific measures. Certain agreements included in this document are not directly related to climate change but contain language that supports complementary actions, such as avoiding deforestation or conserving water resources. In addition to legal authorities, this compilation incorporates extracts from reports issued by expert international agencies (such as the IPCC, UNEP, the IEA and the IMF). Policy recommendations from these reports have been included, as well as references to existing international or domestic programs that have been implemented that could demonstrate the acceptance and feasibility of measures to combat climate change.