📌 Chapter Snapshot
1987
Montreal Protocol
1992
Rio Earth Summit / UNFCCC Birth
8
Original NAPCC Missions (9 on NAPCC dashboard including Health)
CoP-30
Belém, Brazil (2025)
- Climate Change refers to long-term shifts in climate patterns, driven by both natural and man-made causes.
- This chapter covers causes & mitigation, the Greenhouse Effect, Global Warming, Ozone Layer depletion, India's national missions, and the major international milestones from Stockholm (1972) through COP30, Belém (2025).
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Stockholm Conference (1972) → led to UNEP | Rio Summit (1992) → birth of UNFCCC | Kyoto Protocol (1997) → first binding emission targets | Paris (2015): well below 2°C, pursuing 1.5°C | Glasgow (2021): strengthened action to keep 1.5°C within reach.
🌡 Climate Change — Causes
| Natural Causes | Man-made Causes |
|---|---|
| Changes in solar output, major volcanic eruptions, and long-term orbital/tilt variations; internal climate variability | Fossil-fuel burning, deforestation/land-use change, industry, agriculture/livestock and waste emissions |
Measures to Mitigate Climate Change Effects
- Carbon Tax
- Carbon capture/removal where suitable
- Carbon Sink
- Carbon Label
- Clean energy, energy efficiency, electrification and methane reduction
- Carbon Offset
- Carbon Credit, etc.
🏠 Greenhouse Effect
- A natural process: greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit outgoing infrared radiation, warming Earth's surface and lower atmosphere.
| Gas / classification | Notes |
|---|---|
| Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) | Major greenhouse gas |
| Ozone (O₃) | — |
| Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) | — |
| Water Vapour | — |
| Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) | — |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | Not a standard greenhouse gas; indirect climate effects |
| Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) | Not a standard greenhouse gas |
| Methane (CH₄) | From paddy fields, marshy areas |
🔥 Global Warming
- Long-term rise in global average surface temperature, mainly driven by human-added greenhouse gases in the modern era.
- Impacts: melting of glaciers, rise in sea level, impact on biodiversity, impact on human health, impact on climate, impact on vegetation, etc.
- Photosynthesis response depends on species, baseline temperature, CO2, water and nutrients; heat/drought stress can reduce it, while moderate warming can increase it in some plants.
⚠ EXAM TRAP
Greenhouse Effect is a natural, necessary phenomenon (keeps Earth warm enough for life) — Global Warming is the harmful excess of this effect caused by rising GHG concentrations. Don't treat them as synonyms.
🛡 Ozone Layer
LocationStratosphere; most ozone roughly 15-35 km above the surface
Maximum concentrationWithin the ozone-layer region; peak varies with latitude and season
FunctionProtects living beings from ultraviolet rays
Measured inDobson Units
Impacts of Ozone Depletion
- Human health issues (e.g. skin cancer)
- Food production affected
- Aquatic ecosystem disruption
Causes of Ozone Depletion
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- Halons
- Carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform
- Methyl bromide
- HCFCs; controlled ODS release chlorine/bromine in the stratosphere
Ozone hole discoveredAntarctica — 1985
Ozone Layer ProtectionMontreal Protocol (1987)
Ozone Protection Day16th September
⚠ EXAM TRAP
Ozone hole was discovered in Antarctica in 1985, but the Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer was signed 2 years later, in 1987. Don't confuse discovery year with protocol year.
🇮🇳 Missions / Schemes Related to Climate Change
| Mission | Year |
|---|---|
| National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency | June 2010 |
| National Solar Mission | 2010 |
| National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change | 2008 (original NAPCC mission); revised 2015 |
| National Sustainable Agriculture Mission | 2010 |
| National Mission on Sustainable Habitat | 2010 |
| National Water Mission | 2011 |
| National Green India Mission | 2014 |
| National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) | 2008 (original NAPCC mission); revised 2015 |
⚡ QUICK RECALL
2010 launches: Solar, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Agriculture and Sustainable Habitat. Original NAPCC has eight missions; the NAPCC dashboard lists nine including Climate Change and Health.
🌐 Climate Change Related Conferences — Recent CoP Series
| Conference | Year | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Katowice Conference (CoP-24) | 2018 | The Katowice Climate Package, commonly called the Paris Agreement rulebook, setting detailed implementation guidelines. |
| Madrid Conference (CoP-25) | 2019 | Parties strengthened work on loss and damage, including creation of the Santiago Network, but failed to reach final agreement on Paris Agreement Article 6 carbon-market rules. |
| Glasgow Conference (CoP-26) | 2021 | The Glasgow Climate Pact strengthened efforts to keep 1.5°C within reach, called for phase-down of unabated coal power and inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies, and completed key parts of the Paris rulebook including Article 6. |
| Sharm El-Sheikh Conference (CoP-27) | 2022 | Agreement to establish new funding arrangements, including a fund, to address loss and damage for particularly vulnerable developing countries. |
| Dubai Conference (CoP-28) | 2023 | The first Global Stocktake called for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, tripling renewable-energy capacity and doubling the rate of energy-efficiency improvement by 2030; the Loss and Damage Fund was also operationalized. |
| Baku Conference (CoP-29) | 2024 | COP29 agreed a new climate-finance goal of at least USD 300 billion per year for developing countries by 2035, with efforts to scale total finance to USD 1.3 trillion per year, and finalized key Article 6 carbon-market rules; COP30 followed in Belém, Brazil, in 2025. |
| Belém Conference (CoP-30) | 2025 | Belém, Brazil; followed COP29 in Baku |
📜 Major International Conferences on Climate Change — Complete List
| Conference | Year | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm Conference on Human Environment | 1972 | It led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) later in 1972. |
| Vienna Conference | 1985 | A framework for international cooperation to protect the ozone layer, paving the way for the Montreal Protocol. |
| Montreal Conference | 1987 | The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adopted on 16 September 1987; the UN later proclaimed 16 September as Ozone Day in 1994. |
| Rio Conference (Earth Summit – I) | 1992 | Approved Agenda-21; birth of UNFCCC |
| Kyoto Conference (Kyoto Protocol) | 1997 | Legally binding emission targets for industrialized/Annex B Parties; first-period commitments averaged at least 5% below 1990 levels over 2008–2012. |
| Johannesburg Conference (Rio+10) | 2002 | The Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation, renewing commitments to sustainable development and implementation of Agenda 21. |
| Montreal Conference | 2005 | It hosted the first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol after its entry into force, operationalized key Kyoto rules/mechanisms and advanced discussions on post-2012 commitments. |
| Bali Conference | 2007 | The Bali Road Map, including the Bali Action Plan, launched negotiations on a broader post-2012 climate agreement. |
| Copenhagen Conference | 2009 | It recognized the scientific view that warming should be kept below 2°C and included political commitments on mitigation, transparency and climate finance, though the COP only 'took note' of the Accord. |
| Cancun Conference | 2010 | The Green Climate Fund, along with other institutional arrangements including the Cancun Adaptation Framework and Technology Mechanism. |
| Durban Conference (CoP-17) | 2011 | The Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, launching negotiations toward a new agreement applicable to all Parties, which eventually became the Paris Agreement; the conference also advanced the Green Climate Fund. |
| Doha Conference (CoP-18) | 2012 | The Doha Amendment established a second Kyoto commitment period for 2013–2020; participating Parties took commitments amounting to at least 18% below 1990 levels in aggregate. |
| Warsaw Conference (CoP-19) | 2013 | Establishment of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with climate-change impacts. |
| Lima Conference (CoP-20) | 2014 | The Lima Call for Climate Action, which advanced elements for the 2015 agreement and guidance for countries' intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs). |
| Paris Conference (CoP-21) | 2015 | Hold warming well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C. |
| Marrakesh Conference (CoP-22) | 2016 | Moving from Paris Agreement adoption toward implementation, including the Marrakech Action Proclamation and stronger implementation partnerships and rule-making. |
| Bonn Conference (CoP-23) | 2017 | Progress on Paris implementation, launch of the Talanoa Dialogue process, adoption of the Gender Action Plan and the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture. |
| Katowice Conference (CoP-24) | 2018 | The Katowice Climate Package, commonly called the Paris Agreement rulebook, setting detailed implementation guidelines. |
| Madrid Conference (CoP-25) | 2019 | Parties strengthened work on loss and damage, including creation of the Santiago Network, but failed to reach final agreement on Paris Agreement Article 6 carbon-market rules. |
| Glasgow Conference (CoP-26) | 2021 | The Glasgow Climate Pact strengthened efforts to keep 1.5°C within reach, called for phase-down of unabated coal power and inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies, and completed key parts of the Paris rulebook including Article 6. |
| Sharm El-Sheikh Conference (CoP-27) | 2022 | Agreement to establish new funding arrangements, including a fund, to address loss and damage for particularly vulnerable developing countries. |
| Dubai Conference (CoP-28) | 2023 | The first Global Stocktake called for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, tripling renewable-energy capacity and doubling the rate of energy-efficiency improvement by 2030; the Loss and Damage Fund was also operationalized. |
| Baku Conference (CoP-29) | 2024 | COP29 agreed a new climate-finance goal of at least USD 300 billion per year for developing countries by 2035, with efforts to scale total finance to USD 1.3 trillion per year, and finalized key Article 6 carbon-market rules; COP30 followed in Belém, Brazil, in 2025. |
| Belém Conference (CoP-30) | 2025 | Belém, Brazil; followed COP29 in Baku |
⚠ EXAM TRAP
Montreal 1987: ozone-protecting Montreal Protocol. Montreal 2005: UNFCCC COP11 and first Kyoto Parties meeting (CMP1).
⚡ QUICK RECALL
UNFCCC COP1 was Berlin (1995). Kyoto = COP3, Bali = COP13, Copenhagen = COP15, Cancun = COP16, Durban = COP17. Rio (1992) preceded the COP series.
📋 Master Quick-Revision Table
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Climate Change | Long-term shifts in climate patterns |
| Greenhouse Effect | Natural phenomenon | Warming of lower atmosphere by CO₂ concentration |
| Methane source | Paddy fields, marshy areas |
| Global warming impact | Glacier melting, sea level rise, biodiversity impact, health impact |
| Global Temp ↑ | Context-dependent response; heat/drought stress can reduce photosynthesis |
| Ozone layer location | Stratosphere | Mainly 15-35 km; exact peak varies |
| Ozone measured in | Dobson Units |
| Ozone hole discovered | Antarctica — 1985 |
| Montreal Protocol | 1987 | Ozone layer protection |
| Ozone Protection Day | 16th September |
| Main cause of ozone depletion | Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) |
| Stockholm Conference | 1972 | Led to establishment of UNEP |
| Rio Conference (Earth Summit I) | 1992 | Agenda-21 | Birth of UNFCCC |
| Kyoto Protocol | 1997 | Annex B first-period commitments: at least 5% below 1990 over 2008-2012 |
| Cancun Conference | 2010 | Green Climate Fund established |
| Paris Conference (CoP-21) | 2015 | Well below 2°C; pursue 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels |
| Glasgow (CoP-26) | 2021 | Strengthen action for Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal |
| Baku (CoP-29) | 2024 | At least USD 300 billion/year by 2035; Article 6 rules | COP30: Belém, 2025 |
| National Solar Mission | 2010 |
| National Water Mission | 2011 |
| NMSHE | 2008 original NAPCC mission; revised 2015 | Himalayan ecosystem |