Which one of the following groups is correct, in chronological order of the conferences / protocols / agreements on climate change held at global level?

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding Global Climate Change Agreements Chronology

Global efforts to address climate change have evolved over decades, involving numerous conferences, protocols, and agreements. Understanding the order in which these significant events occurred is crucial for grasping the history and progression of international climate policy.

Key Global Climate Events in Chronological Order

Let's look at the key events mentioned and their respective timeframes:

Agenda 21: This is a non-binding action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It was an outcome of the Earth Summit (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development - UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
Kyoto Protocol: An international treaty that committed State Parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and that human-made CO₂ emissions are the primary driver. It was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005.
The Tenth Conference of Parties (COP-10) of UNFCCC: The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme governing body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). COP meetings are held annually. The tenth meeting, COP 10, took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 6–17 December 2004.
Paris Agreement: A legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016.

Based on these dates, we can arrange the events in chronological order:

Event	Year/Period
Agenda 21	1992
Kyoto Protocol	1997 (Adopted)
UNFCCC COP-10	2004
Paris Agreement	2015 (Adopted)

Establishing the Correct Chronological Order

Comparing the chronological order derived from the dates with the given options:

Agenda 21 (1992)
Kyoto Protocol (1997)
The Tenth Conference of Parties (COP-10) of UNFCCC (2004)
Paris Agreement (2015)

This order matches option 3 provided in the question.

Examining the Options

Option 1: Agenda 21 (1992), Kyoto protocol (1997), Paris Agreement (2015), The Tenth Conference of Parties (COP-10) of UNFCCC (2004). This is incorrect because COP-10 (2004) occurred before the Paris Agreement (2015).
Option 2: The Tenth Conference of Parties of UNFCCC (COP-10) (2004), Paris Agreement (2015), Kyoto Protocol (1997), Agenda 21 (1992). This is incorrect as COP-10 (2004) was much later than Agenda 21 (1992) and Kyoto Protocol (1997).
Option 3: Agenda 21 (1992), Kyoto protocol (1997), The Tenth Conference of Parties (COP-10) of UNFCC (2004), Paris Agreement (2015). This sequence correctly follows the order of events by year.
Option 4: Kyoto Protocol (1997), Agenda 21 (1992), Paris Agreement (2015), The Tenth Conference of Parties (COP-10) of UNFCC (2004). This is incorrect because Agenda 21 (1992) occurred before the Kyoto Protocol (1997).

Therefore, the correct chronological order of the listed conferences, protocols, and agreements on climate change is Agenda 21, Kyoto Protocol, The Tenth Conference of Parties (COP-10) of UNFCCC, followed by the Paris Agreement.

Revision Table: Key Climate Change Events

Event	Year	Significance
Agenda 21	1992	Action plan for sustainable development, outcome of Earth Summit.
Kyoto Protocol	1997	Legally binding targets for developed countries to reduce GHG emissions.
UNFCCC COP-10	2004	Annual meeting of parties to the UNFCCC, COP 10 reviewed progress, discussed adaptation.
Paris Agreement	2015	Global agreement to limit global warming to well below $\text{2}^\circ\text{C}$, preferably to $\text{1.5}^\circ\text{C}$, compared to pre-industrial levels.

Additional Information on Climate Change Efforts

The global response to climate change began formally with the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992. The UNFCCC itself is a key framework that sets the stage for subsequent agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the main decision-making body of the UNFCCC. Each COP meeting is a significant event where countries negotiate and agree upon steps to address climate change.

Agenda 21, while broader than just climate change as it covers sustainable development, emerged from the same pivotal Earth Summit in 1992 that led to the UNFCCC.

The progression from Agenda 21 and the UNFCCC framework to the Kyoto Protocol and then to the Paris Agreement shows an evolution in how countries have approached climate action, moving from broader sustainable development goals and initial emission targets for developed nations to a universal agreement involving commitments from all countries.