UN Climate Talks

Articles/Websites

Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Civics, History

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Council on Foreign Relations

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What it is

This timeline traces the history of the United Nations climate change agreements, protocols, and accords from 1992 to the present.
Students will learn how the UN Convention on Climate Change established the Conference of Parties (COP) as a way for countries to discuss climate change.
Links to the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, articles, and reports provide students with more information on the United Nations climate talks.

Teaching tips

Positives

This is a valuable resource for understanding the history of climate action within the United Nations.
Students will learn that it takes time and effort to come to an international agreement.

Additional Prerequisites

The timeline features helpful links throughout.
The timeline does not feature updates from every single year from 1992 to the present.

Differentiation

Model UN clubs or government classes could use this timeline to see how international and local commitment to climate change action has changed over the last three decades.
Science classes could discuss the role that science data plays in COP meetings.
Other resources on this topic include this climate action tracker that shows which countries are meeting their emissions targets, this climate solutions simulator that shows the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions by country, and this article on international opinions on climate change.

From the scientist review

This resource highlights the history of COP meetings from 1992 to the present. It records the disappointments and also successes achieved during this global meeting. This will be insightful for students to have a background on climate negotiations and policies that are influencing global climate actions. This is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Civics, History
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: Council on Foreign Relations
Authors: Lindsay Maizland
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · CG.Civ.1.a. + 5 more

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Standards

CG.Civ.1.a.Distinguish between the functions of local, state, tribal, and national governments in response to challenges (e.g., court decisions, executive orders, legislation, sovereignty, states’ rights).

Connecticut Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

MS-ESS3-5.Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Civ.3.6-8Examine the origins, purposes, and impact of constitutions, laws, treaties, and international agreements.
D2.His.1.6-8Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts.
D2.Civ.11.9-12Evaluate multiple procedures for making governmental decisions at the local, state, national, and international levels in terms of the civic purposes achieved.
D2.Civ.12.9-12Analyze how people use and challenge local, state, national, and international laws to address a variety of public issues.

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Teaching tips

From the scientist review

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