Over 150 States signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in June 1992 at the Rio "Earth Summit". In doing so they recognised climate change as "a common concern of humankind". Their goal was to forge a global strategy "to protect the climate system for present and future generations". Governments that become Parties to the Convention will seek to achieve its ultimate objective of stabilising "greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic [human-made] interference with the climate system."

The Convention provides a "framework" within which governments can work together to carry out new policies and programs that will have broad implications for the way people live and work. It is a detailed, carefully negotiated text that acknowledges the special concerns of different groups of countries.

The Convention emphasises that developed countries are mainly responsible for historic and current emissions and must take the lead in combating climate change; that the first priority of developing countries must be their own economic and social development, and their share of total global emissions will rise as they industrialise; that states which are economically dependent on coal and oil will face special difficulties if energy demand changes; and that countries with fragile ecosystems, such as small island states and arid countries, are particularly vulnerable to the expected impacts of climate change.

By becoming Parties to the Convention, both developed and developing countries accept a number of commitments. These include:

* Submitting for review information about the quantities of greenhouse gases that they emit, by source, and about their national "sinks" (processes and activities that remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, notably forests and oceans).

* Carrying out national programs for mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects.

* Strengthening scientific and technical research and systematic observation related to the climate system, and promoting the development and diffusion of relevant technologies.

* Promoting education programs and public awareness about climate change and its likely effects.

Developed countries accept a number of additional commitments specific only to them. Some of the most important are:

* Adopting policies designed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions and to protect and enhance their greenhouse gas "sinks" and "reservoirs". They will seek to return to their 1990 emissions levels by the end of this decade and will submit detailed information on their progress. The Conference of the Parties will review the overall implementation and adequacy of this commitment at least twice during the 1990s.

* Transferring to developing countries financial and technological resources above and beyond what is already available through existing development assistance, and supporting efforts by these countries to fulfil their commitments under the Convention.

* Helping developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change to meet the costs of adaptation.