What does COP mean?

What does it even mean? What does COP even stand for? And why are there so many COPS?

Many questions can be asked about the summits that were created to focus on climate change, and we have got to a point where we can seriously ask ourselves if we are not being too slow on tackling the biggest problem of our generation (you might think that pineapple on a pizza is bad, this is a lot worse!). At MANOA we believe that to understand the problem, it is important to have the basic information to understand it, but also to understand what is being done to find a solution. Oh no no! Don’t get me wrong, this is not going to be a masterclass about climate change! This is a quick post on COP! So « COP »e with me and together let’s learn more about COP!

Starting today, you will be hearing a lot about COP27 which is happening in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Honestly I think everyone should google the destination because when you think of Egypt, a lot of you think pyramids, camels and a tiny nose problem on the sphinx. Now google Sharm El-Sheikh and you will see that it will have you packing your flip-flops, swimsuit, and other summer classics to enjoy a nice stay in the Sinai Peninsula.

ANYWAY, that is where most world leaders will be heading to see what can be done about our planet! But, what does COP mean? It’s quite easy, it means Conference of the Parties. Where was the first COP? In Berlin (Germany) in 1995 where all parties agreed to meet every year to keep an eye on global warming and polluting gases. However the first important meeting was three years before, in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)! Samba! The United Nations organized the first UN Conference on Environment and Development. It was not yet called COP, it was the… be prepared… the UNFCCC. What does UNFCCC mean? UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It was signed by 166 countries and came into force two years after, on 21 March 1994.

It was the first time that countries were telling our planet the famous sentence you do not want to hear: « it’s not you, it’s me… ». The goal was to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that it would not interfere with the climate, to avoid food production problems and allow every country to pursue its economic development, in a more sustainable way. In 1992… And here we are 30 years later hearing the same sentences…

Kyoto (Japan) hosted the next very important climate summit where the 1997 Kyoto Protocol was approved. It was the countries’ confirmation to say sayonara to gas emissions in industrialized countries but it only came into force in 199…200…2005 due to a long ratification process. Each developed country accepted the fact that it should reach its own national goals and that it was responsable for a huge majority of gas emissions.

The Paris Agreement (COP21) is the most recent historical achievement where after 20 long years of negotiations, all countries confirmed their will to keep global warming below 2 degrees celsius, and even try to keep it to only 1,5 degrees above pre-industrial times. It was approved on the 12 December 2015 and was focused on the post 2020 period, meaning from 2020 to 2030. (The previous period was included in the Doha (Qatar / COP18) Amendment (2012) where the Kyoto Protocol goals were extended to 2020).

What does the Paris Agreement include? Well to be honest, it includes ver important steps. But it does not include baguette, camembert or a bottle of rosé… The first step included is the long term limit to global warming (under 2ºC). Then it asked every country to regularly update their national ambitions and some to tax CO2 emissions (possible in 3 different ways). It includes the obligation for developed countries to lead the financing against global climate change but also allowed third parties to help financially (for example, developing countries). To go further in the effectiveness of the agreement, it also obliged countries to monitor and report their emissions as well as share technology to help developing countries. Luckily the Paris Agreement came into force only one year after, before COP22 (Marrakech, Morocco). The Paris Agreement Rulebook was then approved during COP24 in Katowice, Poland.

Let’s see what world leaders have to say in Sharm El-Sheikh. One thing is clear, global warming is here to stay and we will have to face it. What are we doing about plastic? What are we doing about water? What are we doing about food production and future climatic migrations? There are so many questions that need to be answered. Our generation needs action and we need to see that change is happening.

I often ask myself a question. We are blaming our governments because they are taking too long to take some action. But how many of us are willing to ask ourselves what WE are doing to make a difference? Climate change will not take another route until we face what we do worse: judge our own actions. So what are we waiting for?