Get to grips with exactly what COP is & how the world’s biggest climate conference has tackled climate change impact over the past 29 years
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COP29 is fast approaching and climate activists are eager to hear what our world leaders have planned for tackling the global climate crisis. Governments and policymakers are hopeful that this year’s discussions will lead to more innovative solutions, increased funding for climate initiatives, and stronger collaboration among nations.
But what exactly is COP and what has it achieved in the past?
What is COP?
COP stands for the Conference of the Parties and is a supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This framework is an agreement between 198 parties (197 countries/states and the EU) to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.
Annual meetings between parties assess our world’s current progress in dealing with climate change, set new targets and negotiate agreements such as the Paris Agreement. Individual Parties’ and global progress is reviewed against the UNFCCC agreement, and at the end of the conference, COP publicly agrees on a statement or a binding agreement.
COP meetings happen in a different city every year with the first meeting occurring in 1995 in Berlin, Germany. This year’s COP29 meetings will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Find out more about what COP is here.
Over its 29-year history, COP has implemented several major agreements and policies which have encouraged global progress in combating climate change. Here are some of the most notable agreements from COP meetings:
COP1 (1995)
The earliest achievement of COP was at COP1 in Berlin, where countries agreed that the climate conferences should be held annually.This decision was crucial in establishing a structured platform for global discussion and cooperation in tackling climate change.
Kyoto Protocol (1997)
The Kyoto Protocol was agreed on in 1997 at COP3 and was one of the first agreements that encouraged the idea of global cooperation and binding targets.
The Protocol was the first legally binding agreement that required developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions based on their historical contributions to the climate change crisis.
The Kyoto Protocol also established a rigorous monitoring and compliance system to hold Parties to account, including monitoring actual emissions and trades.
Having contributed most to global emissions, developed nations were expected to lead by example, while developing countries were not legally bound to comply with the same reduction targets under the agreement.
There were some setbacks to the agreement, however, including the withdrawal of the United States under President Bush, due to concerns that the Protocol was hindering the US economy.
Cancun Agreements (2010)
COP16 was a major year for the parties, with several policies put in place to help countries combat global climate change goals, including the Green Climate Fund.
This supported projects, policies and programmes in developing country Parties, helping them to achieve their climate goals.
A Technology Mechanism to enhance technology use for climate actions was also established along with the Cancun Adaptation Framework which aimed to improve resilience against climate impacts, rather than solely focusing on preventing emissions.
Durban Agreements (2011)
At COP17 in Durban, all countries, including the US and emerging economies like Brazil, China and South Africa agreed to start reducing their greenhouse gas emissions after previous disagreements.
The conference negotiated a global climate agreement to take effect from 2020, and there would no longer be a distinction between developing and developed countries asunder the Kyoto Protocol.
Paris Agreement (2015)
Adopted at COP21, the Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty between 196 countries, which builds on the Kyoto Protocol.
Its key goal is to limit global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius but with consistent efforts to keep it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is because exceeding the lower threshold could still have severe impacts on planet Earth.
The agreement operates through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), whereby countries are required to outline their emission reductions and adaptation strategies. Countries individually decide how much they’d like to reduce their emissions each year.
Reports then undergo international review, and the data collected is contributed to the Global Stocktake which assesses global progress towards the agreement’s climate goals.
Marrakech Action Proclamation (2016)
The Marrakech Action Proclamation was adopted at COP22, and acted as an affirmation that the countries were committed to the Paris Agreement. The proclamation called for increased climate finance for developing nations as they transitioned from low-emission to climate-resilient countries.
It also encouraged collaboration across all sectors within countries, recognising the interplay and roles of local governments, businesses and societies.
Overall, the Marrakech Action Proclamation accelerated determination among nations to achieve their long-term climate goals while reinforcing the need for urgent but measured action.
Talanoa Dialogue (2017)
The Talanoa Dialogue was introduced in 2017 at COP23 and was inspired by traditional Fijian storytelling. The word ‘Talanoa‘ refers to a traditional concept used in Fiji and the Pacific to reflect inclusive and transparent dialogue. Countries were encouraged to share ideas, reflect on experiences and challenges in a relaxed setting, focusing on three questions. ‘Where are we?’, ‘where do we want to go?’ and ‘how do we get there?’
Ultimately, the Talanoa Dialogue aimed to help countries have an open conversation about their progress towards meeting their pre-established Paris Agreement goals.
Glasgow Climate Pact (2021)
The Glasgow Climate Pact was introduced to encourage nations to reduce the gap between their current emission reduction plans and the action that is required to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
While already established as a part of the Paris Agreement, the Pact reaffirmed global commitments to help developed countries reach their goals. Every year, developed countries provide $100 billion USD in climate finance to developing nations to help them mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. It was also the first time that there was a focus within a COP agreement to phase down coal and other fossil fuel usage across the globe.
COP28 (2023)
Last year’s COP in Dubai marked the first global stocktake of world efforts to address climate change since the Paris Agreement.
There was another major focus on switching from fossil fuels to greener energy, with agreements that it should be approached in an equitable manner. More than 20 countries declared they would triple their nuclear energy capacity, including the US, UK and Japan.
The Loss and Damage Fund – originally planned for at COP27 – was also made operational, which aims to pay for the financial burdens of climate change impacts on developing countries. However, there is much room for improvement as there was only $429 million USD allocated to the fund, when over $400 billion USD of annual damages is caused in developing countries as a result of climate change.
Overall, COP has made some major achievements in managing climate change, but hard work and global collaboration is required to meet the ambitious goals of their agreements. It is hoped that COP29 will build on much of the existing framework, further sparking determination for nations to reach their goals.