The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body in which nations that have entered into an international convention gather to review the status of implementation and discuss concrete action plans. COP most commonly refers to the Conference of the Parties to the 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where all countries that have acceded to the UNFCCC gather annually to review implementation and determine the direction of international climate negotiations. First held in Berlin, Germany in 1995, COP has been convened annually ever since, with participants including delegations from 198 Parties to the Convention, international organizations, and NGOs. It functions not merely as a meeting but as the central stage of international climate diplomacy.
COP gained international attention through the birth of major climate agreements. At COP3 held in Kyoto, Japan in 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, stipulating greenhouse gas reduction obligations for developed nations. At COP21 held in Paris, France in 2015, the Paris Agreement was concluded, setting the goal of limiting the global average temperature rise to within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. In this way, COP has been the negotiating forum that has produced the key milestones of the international climate regime.
[COP(Conference of the Parties) © ESG.ONL/ESG Today]
COP negotiations proceed around core agenda items including Mitigation, Adaptation, Finance, and Loss and Damage. A representative agreement on a core agenda item occurred at COP27, held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2022, where participating countries agreed to establish a Loss and Damage Fund to support developing countries affected by climate change. At COP28, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2023, a consensus text was adopted for the first time that explicitly stated the need to transition away from fossil fuels.
COP31 is scheduled to be held from November 9 to 20, 2026, in Antalya, Turkey. It will operate under a co-presidency system, with Turkey serving as host country and Australia overseeing negotiations. COP31 is expected to focus on translating each country’s climate pledges into substantive action, based on the outcomes of the Global Stocktake agreed upon at COP30.
COP operates on the principle of consensus, which means it can be limited to the lowest common denominator of agreement. While it has been criticized for lacking legally binding enforcement mechanisms, it continues to serve as the sole global platform for confirming the international community’s collective will and setting the direction for responding to the climate crisis.
by Editor O