COP29 starts today: what is the point of the UN climate conference?

Tens of thousands of people from around the world will gather in the Azerbaijani capital Baku next week for COP29, the annual UN climate summit.

But because each year the summit produces its own promises, plans and documents to track, it can be difficult to follow the rationale behind these discussions.

Here’s what you need to know about why COP, short for Conference of the Parties, is important:

WHY DO WE HAVE AN ANNUAL COP?

Because climate change will affect every country, regardless of whether it contributed to the problem, it requires global solutions that can address the different needs of each country.

When the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed, which began global negotiations, the parties made a point of distinguishing between the wealthy nations that caused most of the warming and the poorer countries that suffered disproportionately from it .

In other words, the talks are based on the idea that the countries that have benefited most from industrialization should assume the greatest responsibility for dealing with the resulting warming.

Redressing this imbalance has become more difficult as developing world economies have grown and rich nations have to juggle competing costs, including war.

WHAT CAN AN ANNUAL SUMMIT ACHIEVE?

The summit provides an opportunity for countries to discuss solutions, including energy policies, financing plans or financing needs.

Heads of state and government from all over the world also take part in almost every summit, which is an important signal that their countries are committed to the UNFCCC goals. The leaders’ presence also helps countries hold each other accountable for past promises.

But the annual COP is only the main event in a continuous process. Country representatives meet throughout the year to rally support for new climate proposals in the run-up to the COP, where they can be adopted by consensus among all countries.

DOES THE PROCESS WORK?

While each summit aims to advance global climate action from the previous year, the event also offers countries an opportunity to show their citizens that the problem is being addressed.

Importantly, the exercise led to countries counting and reporting their emissions and helped funnel hundreds of billions of dollars in climate aid to developing countries.

Because consensus decisions are required, the process also ensures strong global support for agreed actions, increasing the chances that these actions will be implemented.
But the pace of progress has been too slow to contain the rise in global temperatures. Since the COP summit began in 1995, both emissions and temperatures have continued to rise, meaning the world is on the path to extreme climate change.

Supporters of the UNFCCC process say there is no alternative to negotiating major socio-economic changes to limit global warming.

WHAT DO WE GET FROM COP29?

This year’s summit is hoping for some key agreements: a new annual climate finance target, a deal to get multilateral carbon credit markets up and running, and more aid for countries already hit by costly climate disasters.

In addition, negotiators will continue to work on technical agreements, building on the work of previous summits.

Outside the formal COP framework, country groups could launch their own initiatives or pledge funding for specific projects. Companies are likely to announce commercial deals related to climate action as financiers try to raise money for climate investments.

What role does Azerbaijan play at COP29?

Azerbaijan holds the presidency of COP29 this year, while the rotating COP presidency fell to Central and Eastern Europe.

Next year, Brazil will host Latin America’s COP30.

As a summit host, a country works throughout the year to lead pre-summit negotiations and persuade other governments to take ambitious action. This gives the Presidency an important role in setting the summit’s priorities.

What else happens to a police officer?

Beyond the country negotiations, the COP summit offers everyone the opportunity to raise attention – or funding – for their cause.

At hundreds of side events, activists and academics meet industry lobbyists and banking heavyweights.

Panel discussions on topics ranging from ocean acidification to the design of climate protection projects will take place on publicly accessible conference stages.

An exhibition hall called the “Green Zone” will host discussions led by national delegations, non-profit organizations and companies.

While some summits have seen large organized protests, such as the rally of thousands of people outside COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, at the last two conferences in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, protests were only permitted in designated, cordoned off areas.

Azerbaijan, which has also banned public protests, is unlikely to see much civic action outside the highly secure conference grounds.