What does COP stand for and what are their goals? 

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the progress of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the aim of which is to combat “dangerous human interference with the climate system”. The UNFCCC was established in 1992 and is currently staffed by individuals from over 100 countries. The first COP (COP-1) met in Berlin in 1995 and COP have convened every two years since 2001.

What has COP achieved so far? 

Kyoto, 1997

COP 3 took place in Kyoto in 1997. The main outcome of COP 3 was the Kyoto Protocol, in which some developing nations committed themselves to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A larger responsibility was placed on developed nations to reduce emissions as they are responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol recommended starting with the most cost-efficient reductions in emissions, i.e., those where significant emissions reductions could be achieved at a relatively low price. It was believed that this recommendation would spur market innovation in green technologies. The Kyoto Protocol also allowed the trading of emissions credits, in which one country could buy a portion of another country’s greenhouse gas budget (i.e., the total emissions that are allowed under the agreement). However, due to a complex ratification process (in which countries give their legal commitment to the agreement), the Kyoto Protocol only came into effect in 2005. Furthermore, some of the nations (e.g., the United States) responsible for the highest greenhouse gas emissions baulked at the legally binding nature of the agreement so never ratified it. Other countries (e.g., Canada) withdrew from the agreement before the legal penalties took effect.

Paris, 2015

COP 21 took place in Paris in 2015. As opposed to COP 3, both developed, and developing nations were asked to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The landmark outcome being the adoption of The Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change. Countries declared their aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, and to take all necessary steps to keep global warming to well below 2 (relative to pre-industrial levels). To achieve the treaty’s goals, countries had to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2020, in which they outlined how they would reach their emissions reduction targets. Furthermore, the agreement required increasingly ambitious climate action to be carried out by nations over 5-year cycles. Promises to provide financial assistance to other nations to aid in their mitigation efforts were also made and an Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) was established. The ETF requires countries to report on their mitigation and adaption strategies, as well as the support they have given other countries. Nations ETFs combined to produce a “global stocktake” in which the collective progress towards long-term climate goals will be assessed. 

Glasgow, 2021

COP 26, the most recent summit took place in Glasgow in 2021. There were ongoing climate protests throughout the summit with environmental groups sceptical of the proposed climate pledges. There was widespread doubt that promised actions were not enough to solve the urgent global crisis. Allegations were also made that fossil fuel lobbying groups had too strong an influence of COP outcomes. Throughout the two weeks of meetings, leaders from many developing nations also accused developed nations of not delivering the finances they had promised during COP 21. However, there was some good news. For the first time COP agreed a position on phasing down the unabated use of coal power, and many countries and institutions pledged to stop supporting fossil fuel use in the energy sector. While it is genuinely shocking that this is the first time COP delegates have agreed to curb fossil fuel usage, and while many climate scientists and groups have branded these pledges too little too late, at least the need to cease fossil fuel extraction is now globally agreed upon. Nations also agreed to reduce methane emissions (a strong greenhouse gas), reverse deforestation, and speed up the transition to electric vehicles. Funds were also promised to facilitate adaption strategies in vulnerable areas. Perhaps most importantly, it was also acknowledged that only by achieving all of the most ambitious goals could global warming be kept to 1.5C. This acknowledgement will hopefully act as a motivating force for politicians to follow through with their promises.

Limitations

Many of the COP agreements, going back to their origin in 1995, have resulted in targets and promises that are supposedly legally binding. However, there is no clear mechanism within international environmental law to punish nations that break them. So far, the climate summits to date and voluntary pledges have failed to halt the rise in both emissions and global temperatures, causing many to conclude that nations and corporations must be held legally accountable for their actions (or inaction). Others have argued that creating legal binding and enforceable agreements would backfire by stopping countries from joining, but are the empty platitudes that the current system results in any better? It is worth noting that countries including Britain have fixed emissions-cutting targets into their own laws. The European Union has also sought to encourage nations to meet their targets by including clauses within their trade deals which punish nations who do not. In 2021, to much celebration by climate groups, a court in the Netherlands ordered Royal Dutch Shell to slash carbon emissions far faster than pledged. Perhaps this will set the legal precedent necessary for promises to become reality.