The international political response to climate change began at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, where the ?Rio Convention? included the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

The UNFCC since its inception on 21 March, 1994 has now a universal membership of 195 members.

 

 

The main objective of the annual Conference of Parties (COP) is to review the Convention?s implementation. In December 2015, COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, will see countries agree to a new climate change agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

 UAE is actively participates in both formal negotiations and in informal settings outside of the Convention attending multiple conferences prior to the COP21.

 

 

The International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, headquartered in Masdar City, is also a reflection of the UAE's bold actions and commitment to addressing the world's most pressing energy and climate challenges. 

Examples of cutting edge clean energy initiatives in the UAE include the 100 MW Shams 1 concentrated solar power plant and the 5000 MW Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The UAE is also close to completing the Middle East's first commercial-scale project for carbon, capture, usage and storage.

 

 

US, Brazil, China, India, Canada are some countries among others that have pledged to cut carbon emissions.

The new global climate agreement is expected to encourage innovation globally as countries committed to finding sustainable solutions to climate change in the context of their own national circumstances, as the UAE has done.

Information Sources:

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/europe/innovation-keyto-tackling-climate-change-uae-at-cop-21

http://www.masdar.ae/en/intiatives/detail/about-cop21