Find out more about COP21

‘’The cooperation of over 190 countries in securing many positive outcomes owes much to the patience and persistence of the COP President—Manuel Pulgar-Vidal—and the spirit of Lima as we look forward to Paris—the city of lights and the city of love for our shared future and shared environment’’

Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

COP - What’s it all about?

The international political response to climate change began at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, where the ‘Rio Convention’ included the adoption of the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This convention set out a framework for action aimed at stabilising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to avoid “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” The UNFCCC which entered into force on 21 March 1994, now has a near-universal membership of 195 parties.

The main objective of the annual Conference of Parties (COP) is to review the Convention’s implementation. The first COP took place in Berlin in 1995 and significant meetings since then have included COP3 where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, COP11 where the Montreal Action Plan was produced, COP15 in Copenhagen where an agreement to success Kyoto Protocol was unfortunately not realised and COP17 in Durban where the Green Climate Fund was created.

In 2015 COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.

France will play a leading international role in hosting this seminal conference, and COP21 will be one of the largest international conferences ever held in the country. The conference is expected to attract close to 50,000 participants including 25,000 official delegates from government, intergovernmental organisations, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society.

To visit the official COP21 website for more information, click here.

For more information about COP22, please click here. 

 

What was the outcome of COP20 in Lima?

In 2014, COP20 held in Lima attracted over 15,000 official delegates, and negotiators concluded talks with the ‘Lima Call For Climate Action’, a draft document that lays the foundations for a new global climate deal.

Alongside COP20, there were more than 400 conferences in which new research projects and initiatives were presented. The Sustainable Innovation Forum 2014 was the largest commercially-focused event during COP20, attracting high profile speakers, celebrities and over 500 pre-approved delegates representing private sector, government, NGO, UN agencies and civil society. During the two weeks of COP20, over 140 press conferences were held and more than 900 journalists from around the world covered the international event.

Watch official COP21 video

How can you get involved with COP21?

The Sustainable Innovation Forum 2015 in partnership with UNEP, will convene 500+  attendees at an expanded two day session, to further increase the facilitation of partnerships and and bring greater scale to business innovation on climate change. Join leading business, government, UN and public bodies to further accelerate international sustainable development and raise ambition on climate. Be part of the informed discussion, collaborate through networking and enable innovative partnerships for change.

Organised by Climate Action, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) alongside the COP, the Forum generates robust debate and enables the sharing of ideas, technology and solutions that can be turned into positive actions to bolster the post-2015 development agenda. The Sustainable Innovation Forum 2015 will focus on innovative developments combating the biggest issues in climate change right now.

Register to Attend |  Become a Sponsor | Follow us on  Twitter

For more information about COP22, please click here.