Conference of the Parties (COP)

The Conference of the Parties is the highest decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the highest decision-making body of an international convention, particularly known in connection with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It serves as a central forum for global climate negotiations, where representatives of all contracting parties, also known as "Parties," as well as accredited observers come together. The aim is to review the implementation of the convention, assess progress, and make necessary decisions to promote effective actions.

The main task of the COP is to review and update the implementation of the respective treaty to ensure that member states comply with their obligations and adjust their strategies accordingly. The COP is responsible for adopting new legal instruments, setting targets, and facilitating negotiations on issues such as emission reduction, adaptation to climate change, climate finance, and technology transfer. Decisions are typically made by consensus, requiring the agreement of all parties.

The COP meets annually in a different member state that holds the rotating presidency and leads the negotiations. The COP is supported by subsidiary bodies, such as the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), which provide technical and procedural contributions.

Previous COPs have produced significant agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, which requires nearly all countries to review their national climate goals every five years. This institution plays a central role in international efforts to combat climate change by promoting cooperation among nearly all countries in the world and organizing the exchange on the challenges of climate protection and sustainable development.