The first international agreement on coordinated action to tackle climate change was the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which 154 governments signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The convention committed the signatory governments to establish national inventories of their greenhouse gas emissions, effectively setting a baseline level of emissions. It also required developed nations to stabilize their national emissions of greenhouse gases at 1990 levels by 2000, in effect halting the historical rise in emissions up to that date.

The Kyoto Protocol is the commitment of industrialised countries to work together to agree on greenhouse gas reduction measures for international shipping through their membership of the IMO.

The Paris Agreement was signed by governments of over 190 nations in 2015, who agreed to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees C and attempt to limit it to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels. The agreement also extended the scope of reduction commitments to include emissions from international shipping and aviation. It mandated the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to develop and implement binding measures to achieve comparable reductions in these modes of transport.

The conference produced what is known as the "Berlin Mandate." This mandate set the stage for negotiations aimed at establishing legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries. It also introduced a process to involve developing countries in mitigation efforts, albeit with a lesser degree of responsibility due to their different economic circumstances.

COP 1 led to the creation of two subsidiary bodies that continue to play pivotal roles in climate negotiations: the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). These bodies provide technical and procedural guidance to support the implementation of the UNFCCC.

Countries were encouraged to submit national communications detailing their greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation strategies, and vulnerability assessments. These communications aimed to foster transparency and accountability among signatory nations.

COP 1 adopted a work plan and budget for the UNFCCC Secretariat, which supports and facilitates the implementation of the convention's goals.

Recognizing the varying levels of capacity among countries, especially developing nations, COP 1 emphasized the importance of capacity-building initiatives to help these countries effectively participate in climate-related activities and implement measures.