CAN is a global network of over 320 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in 81 countries working to get action on limiting human-induced climate change. CAN members exchange information on climate change issues and pool expert knowledge from around the globe to develop initiatives to combat climate change at the international, regional, national and local levels.

CAN has seven regional coordinating offices which co-ordinate these efforts in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Europe, Latin America, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. In addition there are national contact points in Australia, France, Canada, Japan, Russia and United Kingdom. Diverse environmental organizations from around the globe, ranging from large international groups such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, to small local groups such as Terre Vivante in Mauritania, and the Albanian Ecological Club, work collaboratively within CAN.

IPCC is an independent scientist-technical body to assess available scientific, technical and socio-economic relevant information for understanding of the risks of human induced climate change. This group of scientists was jointly established by WMO together UNEP in 1988.

IPCC has produced a series of comprehensive Assessment Reports on the state of understanding of the causes of climate change, its potential impacts and options for response strategies. The IPCC First and Second Assessment reports were completed in 1990 and 1995. The Second Assessment concluded that the balance of evidence suggests that there has been a discernible human influence on the global climate.

IPCC has also prepared a list of technical papers, special reports, methodologies and guidelines which is used by policymakers, scientists and other experts. The Third Assessment report was produced in 2001.

The IPCC provides scientific and technical advice to the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC and its bodies. The usefulness of IPCC lies in its ability to provide honest, independent and credible assessments of complex scientific, technical and economic issues.

The 1990 Second World Climate Conference called for a framework treaty on climate change. The Conference supported a number of principles to be included in the Climate Change Convention. These include climate change as a common concern of humankind, the importance of equity, the common but differentiated responsibilities of countries at different levels of development, sustainable development and the precautionary principle.

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change met for five sessions between February 1991 and May 1992 and finalized the Convention in 15 months.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed by 154 states in1992 and it entered into force on 21 March 1994. Presently, the Conference of Parties (COP) is the Convention's ultimate authority.

Since 1995, the COP had been held once a year for 7 times. The Convention seeks to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at safe levels. It commits developed countries to take measures aimed at returning their emissions to 1990 levels by year 2000. It also requires all countries to limit their emissions, gather relevant information, develop strategies for adapting to climate change and cooperate on research and sharing of environmentally friendly technologies.