This summer, due to intensified climate change, many countries and regions experienced their hottest day ever.
London reached its highest historical temperature of 40°C, causing the airport to "melt"; a city in southern France recorded temperatures higher than those in the Sahara Desert; and even on Greenland in the Arctic, it got warm enough for people to wear short sleeves...

Beyond complaints and grievances, many people have pinned their hopes on the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), described as a critical meeting concerning human survival.

The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP) is approaching, and many may still be unfamiliar with it. This issue of the "Carbon Management Encyclopedia" will introduce you to COP and its related matters.

Recently, the COP27 Climate Action Calendar has been officially released.

Source: UNFCCC

The schedule brings together governments and non-party stakeholders to promote cooperation among them, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure a just transition to a net-zero economy, thereby alleviating poverty and helping to secure a sustainable future.

It is reported that COP27 will be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to 18, 2022. This COP in Sharm El Sheikh signifies that countries need to demonstrate, through legislation, policy, and judicial avenues, how they will begin implementing the Paris Agreement within their own borders.

01

What is COP? What is COP27? What is UNFCCC?

To understand COP, we must first understand UNFCCC. UNFCCC stands for The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a body established by the United Nations for intergovernmental negotiations on climate change. Since its entry into force in 1994, 197 countries, including the European Union, have become parties to the UNFCCC.

COP (Conference of the Parties) is the annual gathering of the parties to discuss how to collectively address climate change issues. The first COP, COP1, was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995. The 27th session of the Conference of the Parties, to be held in 2022, is COP27.

Key milestones in COP meetings:

• COP3: Held in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, the conference adopted the Kyoto Protocol, which made controlling or reducing six types of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, a legal obligation for developed countries.
• COP13: Held in Bali, Indonesia, in 2007, the conference accepted the Bali Roadmap, establishing a dual-track negotiation mechanism.
• COP15: Held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009, the conference proposed the 2°C target, clarified the scale of financial support from developed countries to developing countries, and outlined the greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2020 (for developed countries and some developing countries).
• COP21: Held in Paris, France, in 2015, nearly 200 parties unanimously agreed to adopt the Paris Agreement, which outlines arrangements for global climate action post-2020, with the goal of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C, ideally to 1.5°C, by the end of this century.

02

Where and How Will COP27 Be Held? Who Will Attend?

COP27 will be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to 18, 2022. At this climate conference, countries need to demonstrate, through legislation, policy, and judicial channels, how they will start implementing the Paris Agreement domestically. This conference will drive global climate negotiations, mobilize actions, and provide a crucial opportunity to assist developing countries in decarbonization and coping with the impacts of global warming.

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Source: Internet

In addition to leaders from around the world, officials from relevant government agencies, negotiators, COP27 will also see participation from representatives of civil enterprises, media, non-profit organizations, and NGOs.

03

Why Is COP27 Important?

Extreme heatwaves have struck many parts of the world again, with some places breaking historical temperature records. Apart from immediate meteorological factors, experts generally agree that long-term climate change has led to more frequent extreme heat events. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) states that the pace of climate change has exceeded our expectations, continuously challenging the limits of ecosystems. Therefore, we urgently need to double our efforts to promote climate solutions in more industries and companies to halve emissions by 2030.

COP27 provides the best opportunity to accelerate global efforts to tackle the climate crisis by bringing together governments and businesses.

Moreover, the outcomes document from COP26, the Glasgow Climate Pact, left some regrets unresolved. First, gaps remain in emission reduction targets, rules for monitoring implementation progress, and financing needed for climate action. Second, WWF emphasizes that nature-based solutions can make significant contributions to enhancing climate resilience for the most vulnerable populations and achieving sustainable development goals. All of this must be carried out by local "guardians of nature," particularly indigenous peoples and local communities. However, the concept of nature-based solutions has been removed from the final outcomes of Glasgow and needs to be adopted at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in 2022.

Therefore, whether COP27 can fully address the "regrets" left by COP26 has become a focal point of attention.

As a pioneer and leader in China's carbon management, Carbonstop has been invited multiple times to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conferences, sharing innovative experiences in carbon management practices. Moreover, Carbonstop is committed to bringing more Chinese enterprises to the UN Climate Conferences, showcasing their low-carbon innovation achievements from various perspectives, and enhancing the international influence of Chinese enterprise brands.

Carbonstop sharing Baidu's carbon reduction achievements at COP25

This year's COP27, Carbonstop will engage with entrepreneurs through organizing side events at the China Pavilion, discussing collaborations and prospects for climate action, striving to promote the low-carbon and sustainable development of Chinese enterprises, and contributing to addressing climate change.