1. Background and Historical Context 🌡️ The problem: By the late 20th century, scientists had reached strong consensus that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from industrial activity were intensifying the greenhouse effect , causing global warming . 📅 Key milestones: Year Event 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ) signed at the Rio Earth Summit — establishing the global framework for addressing climate change. 1997 Kyoto Protocol adopted in K