Conference of the Parties (COP): Historical Origin, List, Objectives & Paris Agreement

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the highest decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It meets once every year in order to discuss issues related to climate change. The COP1 took place in Berlin in 1995. Significant achievements by now include the Kyoto Protocol (COP3, 1997) and the Paris Agreement (COP21, 2015).

Topics under discussion at COP include the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, climate adaptation, financial resources, technology transfer, and loss and damage. Recent COPs have increased the level of commitment of the international community via various instruments such as the Global Stocktake. India is an active participant in COP negotiations.

• COP mechanism was founded in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It was created in 1992 as a solution to the global problem of climate change. UNFCCC has made COP its main decision-making body. The 1st COP (COP1) meeting took place in Berlin in 1995, being the beginning of international climate change negotiations.
• Throughout all those years, COP negotiations have developed into making general commitments to legally binding and implementable frameworks. Important milestones in the development of COP negotiations are Kyoto Protocol (1997), Copenhagen Accord (2009), Paris Agreement (2015), and the Global Stocktake within the framework of the Paris Agreement.

The main goals of COP are to enhance international cooperation in addressing climate change and facilitate international climate action. Some of these include:

• Mitigating Climate Change: Enhance international cooperation in addressing causes and effects of climate change.
• Decreasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Ensure international cooperation in adopting measures that will mitigate global warming and reduce emissions.
• Adaptation to Climate Change: Help countries to adapt to effects and challenges of climate change.
• Climate Financing: Provide necessary financing for climate activities especially in developing countries.
• Technology Transfer and Capacity Building: Enable countries to gain access to technology and expertise for addressing climate change.

The Paris Agreement is an international climate treaty that was developed during COP21 in 2015. The Paris Agreement is an international legal document which aims to increase global climate change actions. It intends to limit the global average temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels while making efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): National plans that contain countries' plans about mitigation and adaptation actions regarding emissions reduction.
• 1.5°C and 2°C Temperature Levels: Temperature benchmarks used to reduce climate risks and prevent the worst effects of climate change.
• Global Stocktaking: Periodical evaluation of progress made in meeting Paris Agreement goals every five years.
• Transparency Framework: Common framework for the reporting and reviewing of information regarding emissions and climate actions.

India is actively involved in the negotiations for climate change at the international level, promoting climate justice, equity and CBDR-RC. The important aspects of Indian climate policy are sustainable development, energy security, technology availability, and climate finance for developing nations.

• India's NDCs: India has pledged to reduce emissions intensity by 45% below 2005 levels by 2030, to achieve around 50% of cumulative installed electric power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030 and to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through forest and tree cover.
• Panchamrit Commitments: Made at COP26, these include reaching 500 GW of installed capacity of non-fossil energy, meeting 50% of energy requirements from renewables, reducing projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes, reducing emission intensity by 45% and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
• Net-Zero Target: India has a target of 2070 to achieve net-zero emissions.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA): India, along with France, founded ISA in order to promote international cooperation and solar energy usage.
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): India founded CDRI in 2019 to improve the resilience of infrastructure to climate change and disasters.
• CBDR-RC: India maintains that developed countries, because of their historical emissions and greater capabilities, should take greater responsibility for climate action.
• Climate Equity and Finance: India calls for equitable climate action, greater financial support, affordable technology transfer and adequate resources for developing countries to pursue sustainable development.

What is the full form of COP?

The full form of COP is Conference of the Parties.

What is the full form of UNFCCC?

UNFCCC stands for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.