--- title: "Short note: International efforts to mitigate climate change" subject: "Technology, Environment and Society" chapter: 6 key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:international-efforts-note" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/international-efforts-note site: BCT Engineering --- # Short note: International efforts to mitigate climate change Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 6: Climate Change - Asked in: 2079 Baisakh, 4 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/international-efforts-note - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-6 ## Question Write a short note on international efforts to mitigate climate change. ## Short answer International efforts to mitigate climate change include the IPCC's scientific assessments, the UNFCCC framework, the Kyoto Protocol's binding emission cuts for developed countries, and the Paris Agreement where all nations set NDCs to keep warming below 2 °C. Additional mechanisms are REDD+, the Green Climate Fund, and the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFCs. ## Answer Climate change is a global problem caused by greenhouse gases from all countries, so it needs international cooperation. The main efforts to mitigate it are: 1. **IPCC (1988)** – set up by WMO and UNEP to assess climate science; its reports form the scientific basis of negotiations. 2. **UNFCCC (1992)** – adopted at the Rio Earth Summit; aim to stabilise GHG concentrations at a safe level; parties meet yearly at the **Conference of the Parties (COP)**; principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. 3. **Kyoto Protocol (1997, in force 2005)** – first binding targets: developed (Annex I) countries to cut emissions about 5% below 1990 levels in 2008–2012. Introduced emissions trading, Joint Implementation and the **Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)**. 4. **Paris Agreement (2015, COP21)** – all countries set **Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)**; goal to keep warming well below 2 °C and pursue 1.5 °C; five-yearly global stocktake; climate finance commitments. Nepal ratified it in 2016 and has a net-zero target for 2045. 5. **Montreal Protocol (1987) and Kigali Amendment (2016)** – the Montreal Protocol phases out CFCs and the Kigali Amendment phases down HFCs; both are also strong greenhouse gases. 6. **REDD+** – rewards developing countries for reducing deforestation. 7. **Climate funds** – Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, Adaptation Fund, and the **Loss and Damage Fund** (COP27–28). 8. **Glasgow (COP26)** – agreed to "phase down" coal and cut methane (Global Methane Pledge). 9. **COP28 (Dubai)** – first global stocktake; call to transition away from fossil fuels. **Limitations:** pledges are still not enough for 1.5 °C, finance falls short, and big emitters sometimes withdraw (e.g. the USA withdrew from the Paris Agreement under President Trump, rejoined in 2021, and announced its withdrawal again in 2025). ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is the role of IPCC? A. Assess climate science forming the basis for negotiations B. Enforce emission cuts C. Fund projects D. Ban fossil fuels Answer: A. Set up by WMO and UNEP in 1988 to assess science. (Key point: IPCC) 2. What did the Clean Development Mechanism allow? A. Projects in developing countries to earn carbon credits B. Fines on poor countries C. Ban on trade D. Nothing Answer: A. CDM lets projects such as biogas earn credits. (Key point: Kyoto CDM) 3. Under the Paris Agreement, NDCs are: A. Nationally Determined Contributions set by all countries B. Binding cuts for developed only C. Global taxes D. Reports of IPCC Answer: A. Each country sets its own contribution, reviewed every five years. (Key point: Paris NDCs) 4. The Kigali Amendment phases out: A. HFCs B. CO2 C. Methane only D. Black carbon Answer: A. Kigali (2016) phases out HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. (Key point: Kigali) ## Related in Technology, Environment and Society - [Human-induced climate change and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ahuman-induced-cc-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Climate change impacts in Nepal and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-impacts-nepal-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Climate change gases, mitigation and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-gases-international-efforts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Are international climate efforts enough?](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ainternational-efforts-enough) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Climate, weather and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-weather-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Global warming and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aglobal-warming-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 ## Related in other subjects - [Climate change and renewable mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-change-renewables-mitigation) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 4 - [Biogas routes and climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Abiogas-routes-climate-change) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 3 - [APA and MLA: newspaper article (Clinton on Climate Change)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Aapa-mla-harris-clinton-climate) — Communication English, chapter 4