Answer:
The United Nations (UN) plays a crucial role in the global effort to combat climate change. Here are some key actions and initiatives:
1. **United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)**: It's an international environmental treaty adopted in 1992 to address climate change. Annual Conferences of the Parties (COP) are held where member states work on agreements to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
2. **Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)**: This scientific body provides comprehensive assessments of the science related to climate change, its impacts, and potential future risks, as well as proposes adaptation and mitigation strategies.
3. **Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)**: The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes 17 SDGs, with Goal 13 specifically targeting climate action. These goals integrate climate change measures into global strategies.
4. **Paris Agreement**: Under the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It includes commitments from all countries to cut emissions and to strengthen these commitments over time.
5. **Green Climate Fund (GCF)**: Established within the framework of the UNFCCC, the fund supports projects, programs, policies, and other activities in developing countries using thematic funding windows.
6. **Climate Action Summit**: The UN hosts this summit to promote climate action and raise ambition and commitment from member states to combat climate change.
7. **Emissions Gap Report**: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) annually releases a report assessing the gap between anticipated emissions and those consistent with the 1.5 and 2-degree targets of the Paris Agreement.
8. **Advocacy and Education**: The UN disseminates educational resources and runs advocacy campaigns to raise awareness about climate change and promote action across governments, the private sector, and civil society.
9. **United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)**: This is the world's highest-level decision-making body on the environment, which addresses critical environmental challenges including those related to climate change.
The UN's role is multifaceted and involves coordination and support for international negotiations, scientific research, funding mechanisms, and initiatives to promote sustainable development worldwide.