• Established the Berlin Mandate, recognizing that existing climate commitments were insufficient.  

• Began negotiations for stronger emissions reductions by developed countries. Marked the beginning of the formal COP process under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

• Countries called for legally binding emissions reduction targets.  
• Strengthened the scientific foundation for future climate agreements. 

• Established the first legally binding emissions reduction targets for industrialized countries.  
• Created the principle of differentiated responsibilities between developed and developing countries. 

Created the Buenos Aires Plan of Action to establish rules for implementing the Kyoto Protocol.  

Focused on advancing Kyoto Protocol implementation.

• Negotiations focused on implementing the Kyoto Protocol.  
• Discussions highlighted climate education, public awareness, and the role of communities in climate action.  

• Finalized many operational rules for the Kyoto Protocol.  
• Advanced discussions on adaptation and support for developing countries.

• Highlighted the responsibilities of developed countries due to historical emissions.  
• Continued discussions on Kyoto Protocol implementation. 

Advanced rules for carbon reduction projects under the Clean Development Mechanism.  

• Established the Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures. 
• Russia’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol moved the agreement closer to entering into force.

• Kyoto Protocol enters into force 
• First COP held after Kyoto became legally operational.  
• Created the Montreal Action Plan to continue negotiations beyond Kyoto’s first commitment period.  

• Focused on adaptation needs in developing countries.  
• Increased attention on climate impacts in Africa and vulnerable regions.  

• Bali Action Plan 
• Launched negotiations toward a new global climate agreement.  

Continued negotiations toward a post-2012 climate framework.  

• Copenhagen Accord 
• Introduced the goal of limiting warming to 2°C and recognized the need to consider 1.5°C.  

• Cancún Agreements 
• Established the goal of creating a $100 billion/year climate finance commitment by developed countries.  
• Created the Green Climate Fund framework.  

• Durban Platform 
• Launched negotiations for a new legally binding climate agreement.  
• Established the pathway toward the Paris Agreement.  

• Doha Amendment 
• Extended the Kyoto Protocol into a second commitment period.  
• Continued negotiations toward a universal climate agreement.  

• Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage 
• Increased recognition of irreversible climate impacts affecting vulnerable countries.  

• Lima Call for Climate Action 
• Established reporting requirements for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).  

• Paris Agreement; landmark global climate agreement adopted.  
• Countries committed to: 

1. Limit global warming to well below 2°C 
2.  Pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C 
3. Submit national climate plans (NDCs)  
4. Report progress every five years 
5. Strengthen adaptation and resilience  
6. Created the modern framework for global climate governance.  

• Focused on implementing the Paris Agreement.  
• Established the Marrakech Partnership to support climate action by governments and non-state actors.

• Advanced the Talanoa Dialogue, encouraging countries to assess climate ambition.  
• Increased attention on loss and damage, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).  

• Finalized operational guidelines for implementing the Paris Agreement.  
• Established frameworks for transparency, reporting, and emissions accounting.  

Focused on carbon markets and implementation of the Paris Agreement.   

• Glasgow Climate Pact 
• First COP to explicitly recognize the need to reduce fossil fuel use.  
• Finalized remaining elements of the Paris Rulebook.  

Established a new fund: Loss and Damage Fund, to support vulnerable countries experiencing climate impacts.  

Concluded the first assessment of global progress under the Paris Agreement.  

Focused heavily on the future of climate finance: new climate finance goals, Support for developing countries, Adaptation funding gaps, and Implementation of previous commitments  

Held in the Amazon region, highlighting forests, biodiversity, Indigenous rights, and climate justice.