Week 5 v2 Call the COPs

Call the COPS!

The Conference of the Parties (COP)

The COP serves as the decision-making body of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and plays a crucial role in facilitating agreements among the 192 nations participating in the Paris Agreement. This conference allows nations to negotiate measures to combat climate change, assess progress, and establish future protocols for environmental protection.

IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

Established in 1985, the IPCC focuses on reviewing and communicating the science surrounding human-influenced climate change. Formed through a collaboration between the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Program, the IPCC is composed of leading climate scientists elected from 195 UN member states. It operates on a 6-7 year assessment cycle, producing comprehensive evaluations through its Assessment Reports.

Assessment Reports:

  • AR1 (1990): The first assessment report that introduced the scientific consensus on climate change.

  • AR2 (1995): Prepared in advance of the Kyoto Protocol, highlighting the need for global action.

  • AR3 (2001): Expanded the scope of scientific assessment and increased awareness of climate impacts.

  • AR4 (2007): Strengthened the argument for urgent action on climate change and policy frameworks.

  • AR5 (2014): Provided scientific support for the formation of the Paris Agreement, addressing mitigation strategies.

  • AR6 (2023): The latest report, offering updated scientific consensus and projections.

UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)

Established in 1992 and effective from 1994, the UNFCCC originated from the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro. Initially, it involved a treaty among 154 countries, which has expanded to 198 member nations as of 2022, providing a crucial framework for negotiating climate agreements.

UNFCCC COP (Conference of the Parties)

The COP has a timeline from 1995 to 2025, and each international treaty developed under the UNFCCC corresponds to its own COP. These parties are responsible for governance and decision-making regarding international climate agreements. Annual COP meetings began in 1995 with COP1 held in Berlin and the series has continued to the present with COP29 scheduled for November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the next one in November 2025 in Bélem, Brazil.

Important COPs:

  • COP3 (1997): Marked the historic signing of the Kyoto Protocol, a landmark agreement committing developed countries to emissions reduction.

  • COP11 (2005): The first meeting after the Kyoto Protocol officially took effect, emphasizing commitment to climate goals.

  • COP17/CMP7 (2011): Notable for Canada’s announcement of its withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol, highlighting the challenges of compliance.

  • COP21/CMP11 (2015): The landmark signing of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, with a target of 1.5 degrees.

Signatories to the Kyoto Protocol (1997)

Countries that have signed the Kyoto Protocol include:

  • Afghanistan - Signature on 25 Mar 2013 (Accession)

  • Albania - Signature on 1 Apr 2005 (Accession)

  • Argentina - Signature on 28 Sep 2001 (Ratification)

A complex web of countries with varying status of signature and ratification exists, indicating different levels of commitment and implementation of the treaty.

Additional Signatories

The comprehensive list of signatories includes countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, and many others, with specific dates detailing their commitment to international climate accords. These commitments are pivotal in shaping global responses to climate change and often seen as reflections of national policy priorities.