A representative image of COP28. (Photo credit: state.gov)
New Delhi: The United Nations’ conference on climate change is well known as the COP conference and is held under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The 28th edition of the COP conference is referred to as COP28. It is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, November 30, and will take place over two weeks until December 12, witnessing numerous thoughts and action plans to tackle rising climate issues. Dozens of countries will push an action plan to promote the world’s first deal to phase out carbon dioxide-emitting coal, oil and gas at the international conference, COP 28, hosted by the United Arab Emirates at Expo City Dubai.
Only decision making forum on climate change
UN Climate Change Conferences (or COPs), an annual international meeting, are the only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change. This annual conference is attended by every country across the globe, with an almost complete membership.
Importance of the COP conference
The first Conference of the Parties (COP 1) took place in Berlin, the capital of Germany, in 1995. The 21st session of the COP (COP21) led to the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in Paris on December 12, 2015, to accelerate and intensify the actions and investment needed for a sustainable low-carbon future. The agreement aims to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100. Additionally, the agreement also focuses on acts to adapt to the already-existing effects of climate change. Moreover, the agreement strengthens countries to tackle the impacts of climate change.
COP 28 is all about implementing the the Paris Agreement and boost ambition and accelerate action to deal with climate change.
Throwback to the beginning of COP
In 1992, several countries came together to join an international treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as a framework for international cooperation to tackle climate change by limiting average global temperature increases. The aim of the convention was also to focus on the result of climate change, coping with impact of it on planet earth and other living creatures.
The formal meeting of the UNFCCC parties is termed as (Conference of the Parties, COP) and is focused on dealing with climate change.
To strengthen the global response to climate change, countries launched negotiations in 1995 and two years later, adopted the Kyoto Protocol, which formally restricts developed country parties to emission reduction targets.
Since the introduction of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP) has been providing a common platform for every member country to determine ambition and responsibilities, and identify and assess climate measures annually.
