The interconnected issues of biodiversity loss, climate change, and poverty are wreaking havoc on communities around the world. In order to respond to these crises it is vital that people work together, and that leaders take action.
What is COP?
The term COP (Conference of the Parties) refers to global summits where governments unite to make crucial decisions and assess progress on pressing issues. There are a number of COP events covering different topics, but perhaps the most well known are two events relating to climate change and biodiversity across the planet.
The Climate COP
The UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (or Climate COP) is the world’s most significant summit on climate change. It is attended by representatives of the countries that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – a treaty agreed in 1994. In 2023 this was 197 countries, plus the European Union.
The Climate COP is where countries come together to review the implementation of the UNFCCC, which has the ultimate goal of limiting human impact on our climate system. One key task is to monitor each country’s progress towards their individual targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions.
The Biodiversity COP
The UN Biodiversity COP, sometimes known as the CBD COP (the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity), is the world’s most important nature conference. It aims to push forward plans that encourage meaningful action to stop biodiversity loss.
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), was born out of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993. Its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
From 1994 to 1996, this COP was held annually. A change in the rules of procedure in 2000 means they are now held every two years.
The CBD COP is where countries come together to review the implementation of the Kunmig-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which was agreed in 2023. It aims to accelerate action and address the key drivers of biodiversity loss and lift the nature agenda. Each country’s individual targets are known as national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs).
Learn more about the 2024 Biodiversity COP, COP16, in Colombia
What is Practical Action’s role at the climate and biodiversity COPs?
Our role at the COP conferences is to amplify the voices of the people we work with, and to share what we have learned from those who are already adapting to extreme climate events and biodiversity degradation. Our staff are often part of national delegations, directly influencing the negotiations. We also influence the outcomes by making sure the most vulnerable are heard and focus on ensuring more support and finance is directed to meeting their needs.
We provide evidence, participate in events, and speak to the media. We showcase bottom-up adaptive work by people on the front line of the climate and biodiversity crises, and work with nature, not against it. We call for a focus on the approaches and resources needed to scale change and enable communities to adapt and deal with the losses and damages that they are already experiencing.
Our experience in helping people on the frontlines of these crises has never been more relevant, nor more necessary. Developing nations are disproportionally impacted by changes to their environments so we aim to ensure that no one is left behind. We bring a diversity of views and expertise from our work with communities across South Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
The way in which the world responds to these emergencies is crucial to all our futures and we know that those living on the front line are now facing an emergency of unprecedented proportions. We will continue to work with many others to support, demonstrate and scale the solutions required for positive futures for the people on the front line of climate change and get finance redirected to climate solutions that deliver for people and nature.
