The aim of this book is simple: to provide a comprehensive, authoritative, objective and accessible guide to the climate change regime. The book thus describes and analyses the rules set out in the Convention, Kyoto Protocol and COP Decisions, together with the institutions and procedures that govern the climate change negotiations.

This book responds to two trends in the climate change process: first, its growing complexity, which makes it difficult for newcomers, and even for negotiators familiar with the regime, to make sense of all the rules, institutions, procedures and practices that have developed over the past decade; secondly, the regime's increasing specialisation, which produces experts on individual topics (e.g. emissions trading, compliance), but few who have an overall picture of how the climate change process works. This guide is therefore targeted at newcomers to the negotiations, specialists wishing to broaden their understanding of the regime, and all those involved in the intergovernmental response to climate change, as negotiators, policy-makers, stakeholders, researchers or other interested professionals.

The book is based on an exhaustive review and analysis of primary materials, principally the Convention, Kyoto Protocol, COP Decisions and supporting documentation. We have also examined secondary materials to the extent these assist analysis and provide commentary on the rules, institutions and procedures of the climate change regime. Our work has benefited from discussions with experts in the climate change process, including FCCC Secretariat staff, negotiators, NGOs and IGOs, who have provided supplementary insights and information to help make this book comprehensive, authoritative and practically useful.