The UN took its first step in addressing climate change with the Earth Summit in 1992, following the Brundtland Report. A blueprint was established to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection. The UNFCCC was also founded during this conference with the goal of raising awareness about climate change and finding solutions. All participants at the summit agreed to stabilize GHG concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent damage to the climate system.

In 1997, the UNFCCC introduced the Kyoto Protocol, which committed signatories to limit emissions. This agreement only applied to industrialized nations since they were responsible for high emission levels. Developing countries were not required to limit their emissions in order to promote economic and social development.

In the year 2000, at the Millennium Summit, the United Nations set up the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

These MDGs consist of 8 international development goals that should have been adopted by 2015. The MDGs were committed:

• To eradicate poverty and hunger

• To achieve universal primary education

• To promote gender equality

• To reduce child mortality

• To improve maternal health

• To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

• To ensure environmental sustainability

• To develop a global partnership for development

Some countries have made significant progress towards meeting their targets, while others have lagged due to economic instability or conflicts.

The Kyoto Protocol faced criticism for placing too much burden on developed and industrialized nations. However, the Paris Agreement of 2015 is the first legally binding agreement that aims to keep global warming below 2°C below pre-industrial levels and limit it to 1.5°C, regardless of a country's economic status.

In 2021, the COP26 climate summit took place in Glasgow, where almost 200 countries came together to finalize the Paris Rulebook and form the Glasgow Climate Pact. The COP26 aimed to mitigate emissions, set out adaptation strategies for those impacted, enable financing, and improve collaboration to reach the goals. The most impactful realization was the commitment of 46 countries to transition away from unabated coal power generation by 2030.