The UN has conducted global climate summits since 1995 to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions, with significant moments including the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, and the recent COP28 acknowledging the necessity to transition from fossil fuels to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The United Nations has been convening global climate summits known as Conferences of the Parties (COPs) since 1995, with the primary aim of stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. The journey began in 1990 when UN experts warned that human-generated greenhouse gases were rising, leading to the potential for significant global warming. In 1992, during the UN “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro, 150 world leaders established the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to target the reduction of these emissions. The first COP took place in Berlin in 1995 and marked the inception of a series of increasingly pivotal gatherings. A milestone was reached in 1997 at the COP3 in Kyoto, where a binding treaty was enacted requiring developed nations to reduce emissions by an average of 5.2 percent from 1990 levels during the 2008-2012 period. However, the United States, which was the largest carbon emitter at the time, did not ratify this protocol, and it eventually came into effect in 2005 but failed to control emissions effectively. The COP15 in Copenhagen in December 2009 was marked by disappointment as no binding agreement was reached for the post-2012 period, despite some major emitters like China and the U.S. agreeing on a political goal to limit temperature rise to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, yet lacking clear pathways for achieving this target. Significantly, in 2015, approximately 195 nations endorsed the Paris Agreement, committing to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with aspirations to restrict it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, the first global stocktake in 2023 revealed that the world was off-track for meeting these goals, urging immediate and bold action from governments and relevant stakeholders. At COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, nearly 200 nations committed to accelerate efforts against climate change under the chairmanship of Alok Sharma. However, the final text faced compromises from India and China, who softened the language regarding coal usage, culminating in an emotional moment for Sharma as he concluded the negotiations. In a notable development at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, a landmark agreement was reached wherein nearly 200 countries acknowledged the necessity of “transitioning away from fossil fuels” to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This marked the first occasion in COP history where fossil fuels were explicitly referenced in a formal agreement. Yet, this deal received mixed reactions, especially from small island nations and other states, who noted the absence of a precise deadline and the ambiguous provisions accommodating hydrocarbon-producing nations.
The UN climate summits, known as COPs, have been a crucial platform for international dialogue and action regarding climate change. Initiated in the wake of increasing concerns about global warming and its associated impacts, these summits serve as a critical forum for countries to negotiate protocols and agreements aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions. Over the years, various key agreements have emerged from these meetings, reflecting the evolving understanding and urgency of addressing climate change.
The series of COPs illustrates a persistent attempt by the global community to address the pressing issue of climate change. From the establishment of the UNFCCC to pivotal agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, each summit has shaped global climate policy. The recent agreement in Dubai signifies both progress and ongoing challenges, highlighting the need for absolute commitment and clearer timelines to genuinely transition away from fossil fuels and meet net-zero objectives.
Original Source: www.barrons.com
