COP 28: TOO MANY PEOPLE?

I am currently at the 28th Conference of Parties in Dubai and you probably know someone (maybe the president of your country) in attendance.

Today I am writing to address the population. Yes! why are there over 90,000 registered delegates for the conference. First, lets start with some facts about the conference.

What is the Conference of Parties?

The Conference of Parties, known as COP, is the decision-making body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It brings together the 197 nations and territories – called Parties – that have signed on to the Framework Convention. The COP meets every year, unless the Parties decide otherwise. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 COP was postponed until 2021.

Youth Climate Movement

In 2018 youth participation in the climate movement grew drastically from what began as global campaign of youth climate strikes, parliamentary protests, and civic sit-ins re-ignited the fight against climate and ecological breakdown. Today there are numerous youth organizations and country youth delegates participating in COP negotiations.

Zones (Blue, Green)

There are two major areas (zones) at the conference of parties, the blue and green zone. The blue zone is open to accredited party and observer delegates. The World Climate Action Summit, formal negotiations, the country pavilions, presidency events, and hundreds of side events including panel discussions, round tables, and cultural events happen in the blue zone.

I will describe the green zone as more of an exhibition area. It is open public, visitors to explore breakthrough climate innovations, cutting-edge tech, interactive exhibits, inspiring art installations, film screenings, and talks.

Badges are required to access both zones and even in the blue zone there are different access levels based on the badges one has. You can be at the Conference of Parties but not at the event at the same time depending on what kind of access you have.

Badges

Badges are ticket that grant delegates access into COP. Party badges are usually gotten from "National focal point" with observer badges gotten from UNFCCC accredited IGO's and NGO's. Registration for organizations to UNFCCC accredited organizations usually ends in about August the year before. This implies that organizations that want to apply for COP 29 accreditation already applied to the UNFCCC before COP 28.

The institution that provides badges to delegates do not automatically provide funding. Delegates can get badges from more than one organization. For example a delegate can get a badge for the first week from organization A and badges for the second week for organization B or even a badge for a particular day from organization D and badges for the next days from organizations E,F,G ...

Attending COP 28

With recent headlines and social media uproar on the number of delegates attending COP 28 one might think attending requires "just" booking a flight. No, it does not!

When planning to attend COP 28 the two most important things needed are a badge and funding. For COP 28, once delegates have their badge they can apply for a special entry visa (which takes about 72 hours for approval) this is for delegates that come from countries that require a visa to attend COP 28. Some other major things to budget funding for are;

1. flight tickets (to and fro),

2. accommodation for the duration of COP (which is usually 2 weeks) or for the duration relevant to your stay,

3. feeding (its not a free food sharing conference, although there are various bonding events and private galas)

4. transportation (to and from the airport and where necessary). The COP 28 presidency made amazing plans so delegates had access to a metro card which enables them take the tram to and from the conference venue,

5. health insurance,

6. cash at hand for contingencies.

Why is Everyone at COP?

The basic reason, is to attend the conference. To negotiate, to observe the negotiations, to protest, to hold leaders accountable on their promises. Ideally, the conference of parties was designed to be "a minister's conference" with the ministers of different nations leading the negotiations. However, in recent time it has become very political with presidents of countries attending to show solidarity with a mix of green washing.

Due to the growing popularity of the climate movement, it is not strange for other global conferences to be held simultaneously at the COP host country during the Conference of Parties. These conferences may be held at the COP venue or outside the COP venue. This means some delegates attend COP for less than a day.

The next big reason people come to COP is to network. If you have been trying to see an industry leader, business tycoon or professional and you know that they will be at the COP, you will invest in attending to meet them. Access to persons of influence is so easy at COP. You can meet them while talking a walk, in a metro (occasionally) or during a side event at a pavilion.

It is important that you are prepared at all times because a split second can present a golden opportunity for you to connect with an investor.

Exhibitions, Pavilions and Side Events

During the conference, organizations market their products, innovations and ideas at hubs in the green zone, through side events in the green and blue zone, at country pavilions or at side events and meeting rooms.

People get invited from all over the world to speak and listen. Imagine you have pavilions for over 100 countries present, and there are international organizations, company booths and various groups and coalition present seeking justice. while negotiations are going on in the main halls, all these other booths have events happening concurrently. You have 100's of people speaking in just an hour at a single venue in different locations and you also need 100's of people to listen to them.

The Negotiations

Everyday at COP there are thematic areas that are negotiated on.

Some years back when I was taught price negotiation, I was told to divide the price of an item by half and start pricing below half the price. Negotiations at COP 28 are different.

It is a lot of work and it can be hard to keep up with. This is why people are advised to pick a few thematic areas that they will focus on. Committees are set up and you have country representatives in them (usually a negotiator and two observers). Using the Agenda G77 and China, the committee on "Adaptation" for example can meet at various times within COP to discuss certain paragraphs until they arrive at a decision that they unanimously agree to present. This means countries need a minimum of 3 delegates (a negotiator and two observers) to adequately negotiate on a theme. It is noteworthy to mention that negotiation times of various themes may clash so it is best to have independent teams of 3 delegates for each team to ensure efficient and effective negotiations.

COP doesn't start at COP

First I will write briefly on the two most important documents in the climate movement, the Paris agreement and the Kyoto protocol.

The Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement, is an international treaty on climate change. Adopted in 2015, the agreement covers climate change finance, adaptation and mitigation. The Paris Agreement was negotiated by 196 parties at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference near Paris, France to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to hold global temperature increase to well below 2°C above per-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above per-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change, provide financing to developing countries to mitigate climate change, strengthen resilience and enhance abilities to adapt to climate impacts.

The Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty that extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the scientific evidence that global warming is real and human made CO2 emissions are driving it. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan.

The Kyoto Protocol applied to the seven greenhouse gases listed in carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs), per-fluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexa-fluoride (SF6) nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) which was added for the second compliance period during the Doha Round.

The Convention (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement established three governing bodies:

• the COP for the Convention,
• the CMP for the Kyoto Protocol,
• the CMA for the Paris Agreement.

With the Subsidiary body of implementation (SBI) meeting at least once (usually in June) before COP.

COP 28 is very important because of the Global stocktake. It refers to an accountability system where the progress of countries in line with the Paris Agreement.

Is it all Green washing?

Countries are mandated to have Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC's) or simply put Climate Action plans which they are required to update every 5 years.

In 2021, Nigeria passed the climate change act to lower emissions and achieve net-zero between (2050-2070). A key feature of the act is mandating business with 50 or more employees to put in place measures to achieve the annual carbon emission reduction targets in line with the Action Plan; and designate a climate change officer responsible for submitting annual reports to the National Climate Change Secretariats.

I hope you found this read informative.

See you in my next COP related article.

Till I write to you next, keep your mind open.

D Oracle!

Tolulope Theresa Gbenro