The road to Copenhagen

JUNE 1992
Rio World Summit - The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is created with the principal aim of stabilising greenhouse gas levels. 192 countries have so far signed.

DEC 1997
The Kyoto Protocol - developed nations agree to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5 per cent by 2012. The US later refuses. China and other developing nations have no binding targets.

2003
European heat wave kills more than 30,000 people. Scientists later claim it is the first extreme event attributable to human-induced climate change.

2007
The UN's scientific committee the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes it is more than 90 per cent likely that humanity is responsible for modern-day climate change.

DEC 2007
Bali - UN talks to decide the next stage in climate change targets Kyoto. The Bali Road Map sets out a two-year process to finalising a binding agreement in 2009 in Copenhagen.

NOV 2008
President Barack Obama comes to power, prompting hope that the US will take a greater part in climate change negotiations.

2009
China overtakes the US as the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter.

DEC 2009
Copenhagen - Meeting to agree on a treaty on climate change. Rich countries must sign up to carbon cuts while developing nations, such as China, also take action to reduce emissions. The world will also have to set up finance mechanisms to stop deforestation, move to a green economy and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change.

JUNE 2010
Bonn and Dec 2010 Mexico - If the UNFCCC fails to agree on legally-binding measures in Copenhagen, there will be subsequent meetings next year.

DEC 2012
The Kyoto Protocol will come to an end.

JAN 2013
The implementation period of any new deal on tackling climate change begins.