COP (Conference of the Parties)
The COP, or “Conference of the Parties”, is a series of international conferences held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The COP conferences serve to plan, coordinate and monitor global measures to combat climate change. They bring together government representatives, experts, activists, scientists and interest groups to develop political agreements and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the consequences of climate change.
Main objectives of the COP conferences:
- Reaching agreements: The COP conferences are known for signing and implementing international agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The best-known agreement is the Paris Agreement, which was adopted at COP21 in 2015 and aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
- Promoting cooperation: The COP provides an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and best practices to tackle climate change. Countries can work together to promote technology and knowledge transfer.
- Raising awareness: The conferences are platforms for raising public and media awareness of the urgency of climate change and the need for action.
Major COP conferences:
- COP3 (Kyoto Protocol): At the third COP conference in 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, which set binding emission reduction targets for industrialized countries.
- COP15 (Copenhagen): COP15 in 2009 was originally intended to produce a new comprehensive climate agreement, but failed to do so. Instead, the political framework for the subsequent Paris Agreement was developed.
- COP21 (Paris Agreement): COP21 in 2015 led to the adoption of the Paris Agreement, where almost all countries in the world agreed on common goals to limit global warming.
Challenges and criticism:
- Implementation: a major problem with COP conferences is the implementation of the agreements made, as many countries struggle to meet their emissions targets.
- Ambition: Critics argue that the pledges and targets made so far are not enough to combat climate change sufficiently and call for increased ambition.
The COP conferences are important events in the global effort to curb climate change. They provide an opportunity for international dialog and coordination of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the consequences of climate change. Their success depends on the cooperation of countries and the implementation of effective measures.
