In Paris, on 12 December 2016, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted the Paris Agreement with accompanying COP decisions. The Paris Agreement outlines a broad framework for climate action that requires significant further work by the Parties to develop the envisaged processes, structures and mechanisms.

The attached table provides an overview of the different work strands in preparation for the entry into force of the Agreement. It lists elements of the work programme as contained in the COP decision or the Agreement, indicates the body or bodies mandated to undertake an activity, and the anticipated timeframe for completion. In most cases the task (e.g. developing modalities) requires a subsequent formal decision by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) at its first session.