The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) came into existence when signed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. It is one of the three Rio Conventions. Its ultimate objective is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system. 

Role of UNFCCC in uniting the efforts against climate change:

• It focused largely on facilitating the intergovernmental climate change negotiations in its early years. It supports a complex architecture of bodiesthat serve to advance the implementation of the Convention.
  
  
• Its secretariat organizes and supports 2-4 negotiating sessions each year. The largest and most important is the Conference of the Parties (COPs), held annually and hosted in different locations around the globe. There are a total of 25 COPs to UNFCCC that have met since 1994.
  
  
• The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at its third session in 1997. It is an international treaty to reduce GHG emissions. It is based on common but differentiated responsibilities, keeping in mind the socio-economic development of the concerned countries and the polluter pays principle. 
  
  
• In 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted, which aims to reduce and mitigate GHG emissions.
  
  
• The secretariat provides technical expertise and assists in analyzing and reviewing climate change information reported by Parties and implementing the Kyoto mechanisms.
  
  
• It maintains the registry for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)established under the Paris Agreement. It is a key aspect of the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
  
  

The UNFCCC process has limitations in catalyzing mitigation action in line with a below-2°C trajectory as its focus on GHG emission targets has been too narrow since its inception. However, its significance in a) encouraging the national governments and creating platforms to provide finance, technology transfer, b) forming a global partnership, c) promoting innovative ideas like the Clean Development mechanism (CDM) to fight climate change cannot be ignored.