COP26

In 1994 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change decided to meet annually to discuss matters related to climate change. This annual meeting became known through the Convention as the Conference of the Parties (COP). COP 26, was held in Glasgow, UK, from 31st October to 12th November 2021.

In this section you will find articles related to the history of COP, the development of international treaties, Parties’ ambitious commitments in relation to climate change, and focus pieces on what to expect in the upcoming COP.

ClimaTalk’s previous article, The Paris Agreement: A Focus on Unresolved Issues, delved into aspects of the Paris Agreement that were left unresolved at the end of the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP). These included Article 6 and carbon markets, funding mechanisms for loss and damage, the timescales for the submission of updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), climate finance, and how to quantify and report emissions. Read more
The COP usually hosts between 10,000 and 30,000 participants. The scale of these events, and the number of participants, has previously been associated with large emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Read more
In this interview ClimaTalk spoke with Sonia Roschnik and Anna Fuhrmann, from Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) to discuss projects surrounding hospitals, nurses training and the health care sector. Read more
In the run up to the next COP, the previous year’s Presidency and the incoming Presidency work together to set out a multi-layered approach to identify and test solutions to the topics at the upcoming COP. This article focuses on the outcomes of the meetings and consultations that have taken place during 2021 since COP25. The discussions have focused on six key areas, their challenges and negotiation points. Read more
There is some evidence of non-state actors engagement in climate mitigation and adaptation, but is still limited. Non-state actors are also calling on the UNFCCC to enable them to have greater involvement in climate policy and its implementation. Read more
Non-state actors may not be Parties to the UNFCCC but they still play an important role in international climate politics. The Lima-Paris Action Agenda was an important milestone to strengthen Party - non-state actors collaboration. The Marrakech Partnership institutionalises cooperation. Read more
What is MockCOP 26? Read on to find out! ClimaTalk speaks with Mock COP26 activist Kelo Uchendu about his involvement. Mock COP hopes to not only host their ministerial summit, but showcase ‘My Climate Reality’, a virtual reality project in which youth on the front lines of the climate crisis can share their stories with UN leaders during the November conference. Read more
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) publishes two annual flagship reports assessing the global advance in two of the main topics of the Paris Agreement: Mitigation and Adaptation. Both reports are coordinated by UNEP DTU Partnership with its office in Denmark, a partnership between the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Read on for an overview of the Adaptation and the Emissions Gap Reports. Read more
Educating people about climate change is at the heart of ClimaTalk’s mission. So, what can we learn from Cindy Forde, founder of Planetari? This education platform is aligned with the UN’s sustainable development goals, equipping children with more information to understand climate change. Read on to learn more! Read more
Going to a COP? Not sure how to plan? Read on! Make sure you work out where you can access, and don’t feel shy about attending negotiations. Have the confidence to strike up conversations and network with other attendees! Read more

Banner photo courtesy of UNFCCC