IC5: Do we still need UN COPs?

Show notes

In this episode of Inconvenient Chats, we delve into the complexities of global climate change negotiations, focusing on the role of UN COPs. Ever since the 2015 Paris Agreement, landmark agreements and decisive steps from UN COPs have been few and far between. Do we still need these big conferences? We discuss the historical significance of COPs, their successes and failures, and the ongoing challenges in achieving meaningful climate action.

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Sources (not exhaustive, sorted chronological by COPs)

• Tuvalu minister to address Cop26 knee deep in water to highlight climate crisis and sea level rise (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/08/tuvalu-minister-to-address-cop26-knee-deep-in-seawater-to-highlight-climate-crisis))
• COP27 failed. So why continue with these UN climate summits? (https://theconversation.com/cop27-failed-so-why-continue-with-these-un-climate-summits-195348))
• COP28 climate summit signals the end of fossil fuels — but is it enough? As nations make historic pledge to ‘transition’ energy systems away from fossil fuels — some scientists are disappointed by the softened wording (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-04025-y))
• COP28: What was achieved, and what needs to happen now (https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/12/cop28-what-was-achieved-and-what-needs-happen-now))
• Record number of fossil fuel lobbyists granted access to COP28 climate talks (https://globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/record-number-of-fossil-fuel-lobbyists-granted-access-to-cop28-climate-talks/))
• Not conducive to our survival: Pacific islands on the climate frontline respond to Cop28 deal (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/20/not-conducive-to-our-survival-pacific-islands-on-the-climate-frontline-respond-to-cop28-deal?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
• COP29 is for oil deals (https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-fuels/cop29-is-for-oil-deals/))
• After a disappointing COP29, here’s how to design global climate talks that might actually work (https://theconversation.com/after-a-disappointing-cop29-heres-how-to-design-global-climate-talks-that-might-actually-work-244645))
• Tobacco industry access to policy elites and the implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (https://ggtc.world/news-and-events/tobacco-industry-access-to-policy-elites-and-the-implementation-of-article-53-of-the-who-framework-convention-on-tobacco-control))