Conference of parties all events
[edit] About the Conference of the Parties or COP events?
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an event organised by the United Nations (UN), an international organisationfounded in 1945. Attendees of COP events includes representatives of all countries that are signatories (or 'Parties') to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
There are 198 parties that have now ratified that convention, two countries that are non-member observer states (the Holy See and the State of Palestine), and three thast have not including Iran, Libya and Yemen. There are COP events that can be found on other topics, though their relationship to the UN is often unclear and should be checked, but the term COP is generally affiliated with the UN.
The UNFCCC and the reference to UN COPs stemmed from the Rio Summit which was the first United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the 'Earth Summit' held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. Issues discussed at the Earth Summit were:
- Patterns of development that create pressure on the environment..
- Protection of the atmosphere (energy use, climate change, ozone depletion, transboundary air pollution).
- Protection of land resources (deforestation, desertification, land degradation, and drought).
[edit] Climate change, biological diversity and desertification COPs
The issues discussed at the Rio Summit and creation of the United Nations Framework Convention (UNFC) in turn created three intrinsically linked strands or conventions which have and continue to hold COPs:
- The UN convention on climate change (UNFCC), most commonly referred to as COP or UNCCCOP.
- The UN Convention on biological diversity (UNCBD or CBD), also sometimes referred to as COP, BIOCOP or EXCOP.
- The UN Convention to combat desertification (UNCCD) also sometimes referred to as COP.
A Joint Liaison Group was set up to boost cooperation between the three conventions, with the ultimate aim of developing synergies in their activities on issues of mutual concern, namely preventing dangerous human interference with climate systems. While figures in all areas vary over time and source, the message for the built environment is relatively similar:
The World Economic Forum in 2020, as well as others, estimated that the built environment sector was responsible for nearly 30% of biodiversity loss globally. (The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and What it Means for Business. January 2023)
The World Green Building Council and others suggest buildings are responsible for around 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions, with around one-quarter relating to materials and the rest to energy-related emissions. (Bringing embodied carbon upfront WGBC 2019)
Desertification is a direct result of climatic variations caused by carbon emissions and human activities that reduce natural infrastructure. This can be as a result of supporting the built environment through direct development, agricultural activities, or material harvesting for fuel, construction, or food. The IPCC report with high confidence "Desertification is land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, collectively known as drylands, resulting from many factors, including human activities and climatic variations. The range and intensity of desertification have increased in some dryland areas over the past several decades" (IPPC special report on Desertification).
The COPs are negotiations at the highest international governance level; however, agreements made during these events should necessarily feed into the individual country governmental policy, in turn impacting regional, and local level policy, as well as feeding into the community and industry. The design, construction, use, and decommissioning of buildings connects to all three themes directly as well as indirectly, from the materials used to extract, manufacture, supply, and construct the built environment, to where buildings are built, where they sit within development policies, how much and on what energy they run, and how they shape the behaviour of people using them.
[edit] All previous UN COP conventions on climate change.
|
COP 31 UN Climate Change Conference Leaders' summit in Istanbul while the main summit Antalya,Turkey in November 2026. |
|
|
+ Belém Package adopted, with 29 decisions focused on adaptation, just transition, trade, gender, and tech. + Countries agreed to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and formalized a Baku Adaptation Roadmap 2026‑28. + Just‑transition programme to support workers and communities shift away from fossil-fuel economies. + The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) launched to provide financing for tropical forest conservation. + Over 122 countries submitted new or updated NDCs, reinforcing the “COP of Implementation” ambition. - Despite strong calls, COP30 failed to include a binding roadmap to phase out fossil fuels. - Critics argue multilateralism preserved at cost of climate ambition, especially on deforestation and energy. - Accommodation costs soared, raising participation concerns for poorer delegations and civil society decried heavy security, limiting protest and civic space. - Leaders from four of the world's five most-polluting economies, not there: China, the US, India and Russia. - Fire broke out in the venue, prompting evacuation and casting doubt on the event’s preparedness. | |
|
+ Adoption of a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) committing to mobilize US$ 300 billion annually by 2035 for climate finance. + Finalised Paris Agreement Article 6 carbon market rules, enabling international carbon trading. + Enhanced Transparency Framework under Article 13 reinforced, capacity-building for developing countries. + Lima Work Programme on Gender frenewed or ten more years to support gender-responsive climate action. + Launch of the “Baku to Belém Roadmap” aiming to scale up climate finance to US$ 1.3 trillion via public, private, and non-debt instruments. - Developing nations criticise US$ 300 billion climate finance goal as too low compared to $1.3 trillion demand. - The carbon market rules under Article 6 raised fears of greenwashing, as critics warned they may allow polluters to delay real emissions cuts. - Lloss and damage highly contentious, with disagreement over including it under new climate finance target. - Civil society reported restricted protests raising concerns about suppression of dissent. - Azerbaijan human rights record and oil-rich status led to accusations of hypocrisy and greenwashing as host. | |
|
+ Countries agreed for the first time to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems. + The first Global Stocktake was completed, calling for tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. + The Loss and Damage Fund was operationalised with initial pledges exceeding $700 million. + Nations committed to tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030. + Stronger pledges were made to cut methane and other non-CO₂ emissions through initiatives like the Global Methane Pledge. - The final text avoided a clear phase-out of fossil fuels, angering many countries and climate groups. - COP President Sultan Al Jaber’s role as head of ADNOC raised concerns about conflicts of interest. - Leaked documents suggested the UAE planned to use COP28 to pursue oil and gas deals. - A record 2,400+ fossil-fuel lobbyists attended, sparking criticism over industry influence. - Al Jaber’s comment questioning the science behind fossil-fuel phase-out triggered global backlash. | |
|
Establishing a dedicated fund for loss and damage. Maintaining a clear intention to keep 1.5°C within reach. Holding businesses and institutions to account. Mobilising more financing for developing countries. Making the pivot toward implementation. | |
|
Nations adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact, Finance for Climate Adaptation. Transparency and Reporting. | |
|
Guidelines on how international carbon markets will work (Article 6 of the Paris Agreement). Loss and damage suffered by developing nations due to climate change Finance for decarbonization. Finalized copy of the Katowice rulebook of the Paris Agreement. Prevent the double-counting of emissions reductions | |
|
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) enhance commitments by 2020. Outlined mitigating and adapting measures and financial support for climate action in developing countries. From 2024, parties to report their emissions (and progress in reducing them) every two years. Guidelines for the “global stocktake” pledge-and-review cycle, an opportunity for parties to report on their progress in meeting their goals. Developed countries commit of $100 billion annually from 2020 to fund climate action in developing countries. Under the Katowice Rulebook in November 2020 parties are to initiate “deliberations on setting a new collective quantified goal a floor of USD 100 billion per year, in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency of implementation and taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries”. | |
|
Mitigation - food security was recognised. Adaptation - establishment of a loss and damage fund Collaboration. - Details to implement the Santiago Network. | |
|
Financial-centric decisions to finance and plan the actions to meet the targets of COP21. Developing countries affirming to commit to finance climate-focused steps with a budget of $100 billion. Green Climate Fund, Paris Agreement's Article 6: internationally transferable mitigation outcomes, new market mechanism to overtake the Kyoto Protocol and non-market approaches. Solidify Article 6 by 2018. Open and transparent dialogue with incoming presidency (Decision 1/CP.22, paragraph 16). Requiring 'facilitative dialogues' between all country parties to achieve the Paris Agreements' goals. | |
|
The Paris agreement. First universal agreement applicable to all 198 negotiating Parties committed to long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies. Fair and differentiated agreement depending on respective capabilities and different national circumstances. Sustainable and dynamic agreement to hold the increase in global average temperature to below 2°C and ensure efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C. A financial component to ensure international solidarity with the most vulnerable countries. Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC). mechanism working plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2025-2030, And adapting to or reducing vulnerability to climate change. | |
| Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative. Adaptation issues elevated National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) recognized as pathway to. Support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to adaptation discussed and some comittment. Nazca Climate Action Portal launched to increase the visibility of climate action among cities, regions, companies and investors. Nauru and Tuvalu islands submitted to the Doha amendment, bringing Kyoto Protocol signatory Parties to 21 (144 needed). Consideration to link Climate Technology Centre and Network to the GCF and the UNFCCC Finance mechanism. The Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage was confirmed for two years. | |
|
Governments agreed to communicate respective contributions, finalized monitoring, reporting and verification arrangements for domestic action towards universal agreement in advance of Paris in 2015. Rulebook for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation agreed, together with measures to bolster forest preservation and a results-based payment system to promote forest protection. The Green Climate Fund, planned to be a major channel of financing for developing world action, will be ready for capitalization in the second half of 2014. agreed on a mechanism to address loss and damage caused by long-term climate change impacts. showcase for climate action by business, cities, regions and civil society. | |
| Decisions on works of the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) for the establishment of a new international framework “basic arrangements for negotiations .. set up toward an agreement by 2015 on a new legal framework beyond 2020”. Amendments to the Kyoto Protocol and the subsequent termination of the AWG-KP. Decisions on long-term cooperation under the agreement and the subsequent termination of the AWG-LCA. Decisions on financing. COP decision on loss and damage associated with climate change impacts. | |
| Agreed Ad-hoc Working Group “Durban Platform for Enhanced Action” is envisaged to result in a legally binding agreement encompassing all countries by 2015 and coming into effect by 2020, connected with a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Political compromise to keep Kyoto alive on a limited, transitional basis, pointing the way toward a new pact under the UNFCCC putting developed and developing countries on a more equal footing. | |
| Set of decisions anchoring national mitigation pledges, steps to strengthen finance, transparency, and other elements of the multilateral climate framework, stalemate issues of previous international climate talks. | |
|
Copenhagen Accord – to cap the global temperature rise by committing to significant emission reductions and to raise funds to help the developing world address climate change. 188 governments agreed to new set of international goals for biodiversity called the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), committing to address the ongoing loss of terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Removing environmentally harmful subsidies, moving to sustainable use of biodiversity with protection of 30 percent of the earth's land and sea areas | |
|
The Hague Climate Change Conference and |
|
[edit] All previous UN COP conventions on biological diversity.
[edit] All previous UN COP conventions on desertification.
| COP 14) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held from 2 to 13 September 2019 in New Delhi, India. UN Women, together with the UNCCD Secretariat and the International Union for the Conservation | |
| COP 13) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held from 6 to 16 September 2017 in Ordos, China. | |
| COP 12) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Ankara, Turkey, from October 12-23, 2015. | |
| COP 11) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Windhoek, Namibia, from September 16-27, 2013. The theme for COP 11 was "A stronger UNCCD for a Land-Degradation Neutral World". | |
| The 10th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Changwon, Republic of Korea, from October 10-21, 2011. It was a significant meeting as it focused on the UNCCD's 10-year strategy, adopted in 2007, and its implementation. | |
| COP 9) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from September 21 to October 2, 2009. This was the first time the COP convened in Latin America. The main theme of COP 9 was "Investing in Land and Developing a Green Economy". | |
| COP 8: Madrid, Spain (2007) | COP 8) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Madrid, Spain, from September 3-14, 2007. This session adopted a 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the UNCCD for the period 2008-2018. |
|
The UNCCD's COP7, held in Nairobi in 2005, focused on desertification and land degradation, with a key outcome being the adoption of the Nairobi Work Programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. |
|
The sixth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP6) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Havana, Cuba from 25 August to 5 September 2003. |
|
COP5) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 1st to 12th, 2001. This conference focused on addressing the issue of desertification and its impact on various regions, particularly in Africa. |
|
The fourth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP4) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Bonn, Germany, from December 11 to 22, 2000. |
|
The third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP3) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Recife, Brazil, from November 15 to 26, 1999 |
|
COP 2) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Dakar, Senegal, in December 1998. The main focus of the session was consultations on the medium-term strategy of the secretariat and the launch of the first round table of Members of Parliaments on desertification. |
|
The first Conference of the Parties(COP1) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Rome, Italy, from September 29 to October 10, 1997. This event marked the first meeting of the parties that had ratified the UNCCD, which had been adopted in 1994. |
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Achieving zero carbon.
- Carbon emissions.
- Carbon plan.
- Climate change science.
- Climate Change Levy.
- Climate Change Committee progress reports.
- Conference of parties all events
- COP28 and the Path Ahead for Industry.
- COP21 Paris 2015.
- COPs and the last day of no 28.
- CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
- Energy Act.
- Emission rates.
- Energy related products regulations.
- Energy targets.
- Government net zero review 2022.
- Greenhouse gases.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC.
- Kyoto protocol.
- LETI calls for responses to BEIS net zero review.
- Net zero carbon 2050.
- Net Zero Review underlines role for engineering services.
- Net zero strategy: build back greener.
- Sustainability.
- The Edge policy proposals for the built and natural environment 2022.
- The Low Carbon Transition Plan: National strategy for climate and energy.
- The sustainability of construction works.
- UK Climate Change Risk Assessment.
- What is the Conference of the Parties ?
[edit] External references
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
The cost of employing people remains a concern.
Code of Practice for Electrical Energy Storage Systems.
ECA calls on members to comment on draft 4th edition.
Bringing together expertise and creating cultural benefits.
CIOB celebrates positive Ofsted report.
The Building Safety Regulator announces a call for evidence.
Government approach could undermine delivery and regeneration.
World's first mass timber data centre.
The overlooked environmental aspect of data centre development.
Introduction to radon awareness
New technical information sheet published by CIOB.
Updated supplier guide can help electrical contractors engage with NHP.
CIAT confirm the winners of the 2026 architectural technology awards.
Government launches a one stop shop for flood preparedness.
Sir Edwin Lutyens: Britain's greatest architect? Book review.