Context
The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) convenes in Belém, Brazil, a decade after the Paris Agreement. Its primary objective is implementation, focusing on translating climate pledges into measurable outcomes.
The conference centers on ensuring an equitable transition based on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR-RC).
Key Objectives
COP30 priorities include:
- Completing the first Global Stocktake (GST) to assess progress.
- Establishing the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, scaling beyond the $100 billion floor.
- Defining measurable targets for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).
- Operationalising finance roadmaps, including the Brazil-led Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF).
The focus is on action, emphasizing prioritized finance and technology for the Global South.
The Conference of the Parties (COP)
Context : The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the annual meeting and supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Origin and Mandate
The UNFCCC is a multilateral treaty signed in 1992 to “stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations” and prevent dangerous human-induced interference with the climate system. The first COP was held in Berlin in 1995, establishing the annual conference to review implementation and progress.
Core Functions and Outcomes :-
The primary goal of COP is to negotiate global agreements and review progress on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Key Treaties: COP meetings produce new legal instruments. Notable outcomes include the Kyoto Protocol (COP3), which set binding emission targets for developed nations, and the Paris Agreement (COP21).
- Paris Agreement (2015): A legally binding treaty to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.
- Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): A central component of the Paris Agreement, NDCs are the climate action plans submitted by each Party, outlining their emission reduction targets and adaptation strategies. These are reviewed and updated every five years.
COP 29 : COP29 (the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC), held in Baku, Azerbaijan
Key Achievements
- A landmark agreement on climate finance: developed countries committed to at least US $300 billion per year by 2035 for climate action in developing countries.
- A broader financing ambition: the agreement envisions scaling up to US $1.3 trillion per year by 2035, from all public and private sources.
- Emphasis on adaptation, resilience and “loss & damage” finance — supporting vulnerable and climate-impacted countries.
India’s Key Initiatives at COP29
- LeadIT Summit: Co-hosted with Sweden to promote decarbonisation of heavy industries and accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
- Solar Energy Leadership: Advanced through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), targeting a twenty-fold increase in global solar capacity by 2050.
- SIDS Adaptation Finance: Championed enhanced climate finance and disaster-resilient support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
