As COP31 begins in Turkey, discover what the global climate summit means, the agreements shaping our environmental future and why its outcomes matter for Southend.
What is COP?
COP (which stands for Conference of the Parties) is the main decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Since 1995, member states, or ‘Parties’, have met annually at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to discuss global climate action.
The conference typically lasts around two weeks and provides an opportunity to review progress towards climate goals across its 198 member states. This year, the 31st conference (COP31) will take place in Antalya, Turkey, from 9th to 20th November.
Why is it important?
COP meetings provide an important opportunity for global cooperation, allowing countries to work together to develop and strengthen climate targets. Activities that take place during the conference include:
- Reviewing member states’ climate action plans and assessing progress towards existing targets.
- Identifying effective approaches, as well as gaps in current strategies that need to be addressed.
- Reviewing and updating climate targets and commitments based on progress made.
These activities help maintain momentum in tackling climate change and ensure that environmental commitments remain central to policymaking at both national and international levels.
COP meetings can also result in new shared agreements and commitments between member states. Some of these agreements may become legally binding, helping to strengthen international efforts to reduce the negative impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.
Key examples of the shared agreements made at COP meetings include:
- The Kyoto Protocol (1997, COP3): This agreement committed industrialised countries to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, with individual emission reduction targets set for 37 industrialised countries.
- The Paris Agreement (2015, COP21): Initially adopted by 195 Parties (although the United States formally withdrew from this agreement earlier this year), the agreement aims to limit the rise in global average temperatures to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
- The Loss and Damage Fund (2022, COP27): An international fund established to provide financial support to developing countries particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
- The UAE Consensus (2023, COP28): Following the first Global Stocktake, which assessed global progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.
How does it relate locally and specifically to Southend?
Although COP is a global event, the agreements and commitments made during the summit can have a significant influence on national and local climate policies.
For example, the UAE Consensus, agreed at COP28, called for a transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems. This outcome has helped inform the UK's 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which sets out the UK's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035, compared with 1990 levels. The plan includes action across areas such as renewable energy, transport and industry.
These national commitments also have implications for local authorities, including Southend-on-Sea City Council, which play an important role in supporting the UK's wider climate goals through local environmental projects and policies. Therefore, keeping up to date with developments at COP is important. Understanding how international agreements translate into national commitments and local action can help us make informed decisions, support environmental progress and contribute towards a more sustainable future for Southend.