People all over the world are feeling the effects of climate change and suffering consequences such as natural disasters and rising temperatures. This is largely due to human actions - and in order to reduce these negative impacts, some countries have come together to establish how each one can collaborate, thus giving rise to the Conference of the Parties (COP), an annual meeting to define and measure goals, exchange information and boost sustainable initiatives.

In Brazil, one of the most talked about topics is the COP-30, which will be held in the country in 2025, but the event has achieved a lot since its first edition.

Here's a look at what COP is, its history and the milestones it has achieved over the years.

What is the COP?

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an annual event that brings together representatives from around the world to discuss initiatives, global policies and environmental goals with the collective aim of combating climate change and mitigating its impact on the environment.

Held within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the meeting, open to representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society and companies from signatory countries, has become the main event on the sustainability agenda.
Since 1995, the COP has made a lot of progress, but the challenges are still great and require urgent and increasingly aligned action to guarantee a sustainable future for the global population.

What is the origin of the COP?

The COP came into being in 1992, when the UNFCCC was signed during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, better known as ECO-92 or Rio-92. From that moment on, the signatory countries undertook to hold an annual meeting to assess progress in the fight against climate change.

The COP became the decision-making body of the UNFCCC, made up of all the countries that have ratified the Convention. Since its first edition, held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany, the event has become the main forum for negotiations on climate change.

Each edition of the COP is numbered and, in 2025, the 30th edition of the conference will be held in Brazil, in Belém, Pará.

History of COPs

Germany (Berlin) COP-1; Switzerland (Geneva) COP-2; Japan (Kyoto) COP-3; Argentina (Buenos Aires) COP-4 and COP-10; Germany (Bonn) COP-5 and COP-23; Netherlands (The Hague) COP-6; Morocco (Marrakech) COP-7 and COP-22; India (New Delhi) COP-8; Italy (Milan) COP-9; Canada (Quebec - Montreal) COP-11; Kenya (Nairobi) COP-12; Indonesia (Bali) COP-13; Poland (Poznania) COP-14; Denmark (Copenhagen) COP-15; Mexico (Cancún) COP-16; South Africa (Durban) COP-17; Qatar (Doha) COP-18; Poland (Warsaw) COP-19; Peru (Lima) COP-20; France (Paris) COP-21; Poland (Katowice) COP-24; Spain (Madrid) COP-25; United Kingdom (Glasgow) COP-26; Egypt (Sharm El Sheikh) COP-27; United Arab Emirates (Dubai) COP-28; Azerbaijan (Baku) COP-29; Brazil (Belém) COP-30.

Objectives and milestones of the Conference of the Parties

The COP's main objective is to discuss policies and actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt societies to the impacts of climate change.

Since the initial editions of the conference, norms and policies have been established which still guide the decision-making discussions at the meeting. The most prominent are:

COP-1 (1995, Berlin): The initial focus was on creating a mechanism to monitor and evaluate GHG emissions. The Berlin Mandate was then established, a commitment which stated that developed countries should reduce their emissions.

COP-3 (1997, Kyoto): One of the most significant moments of the COP was the Kyoto Agreement, which formalized GHG emission reduction targets for developed countries. The agreement came into force in 2005, but was not ratified by all countries, such as the United States, which withdrew from the pact.

COP-15 (2009, Copenhagen): COP-15 was marked by the lack of a binding global agreement, despite intense negotiations. However, the event resulted in the Copenhagen Accord, which established voluntary commitments to reduce emissions, without binding targets.

Personalities who made history at the COP

Several political leaders and activists have marked the history of the COPs, with speeches and actions that have influenced the global climate agenda to this day.

Greta Thunberg

The Swedish activist has become a central figure at the COPs, especially at COP-24 (2018) and COP-25 (2019), where her speeches on the urgency of taking action against climate change received great global attention.

Barack Obama

The former president of the United States played an important role at COP-21 with his decisive support for the Paris Agreement, which is considered one of the most important legacies of his presidency.

Christiana Figueres

Former executive secretary of the UNFCCC, Figueres played a key role in negotiating the Paris Agreement and is one of the most respected figures in the fight against climate change.

Changes brought about by the COP

The annual COP meetings have brought about many changes. Over the years, significant advances have been made, such as the Kyoto Protocol (1997), the signing of the Paris Agreement (2015), the Glasgow Agreement (2021) and the Loss and Damage Fund (2022).

Demonstrations and protests by social groups, environmental movements, activists and trade unions are also very common during the events. The aim is one: to put pressure on world leaders to take more effective measures.

Which countries take part in the Conference and how the venue is chosen

The COP currently brings together almost 200 signatory countries to the UNFCCC, be they developed, developing or in the process of developing. The venue for each conference is chosen through negotiations between the countries and is rotated between different regions of the world. The venue is always decided in advance, and the location must reflect a balance between accessibility, infrastructure and political relevance.

The commitment of companies at the COP

Companies also play a vital role in COP editions, being encouraged to commit to reducing their emissions and adopting sustainable practices.

In recent years, large companies have committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with some offering technological solutions to facilitate the energy transition and sustainability. In addition, non-governmental organizations and social movements are pressuring companies to meet their commitments and increase the transparency of their climate actions.

Neoenergia has actively participated in the COP editions, contributing to the global debate on environmental preservation, the expansion of renewable sources in energy generation and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The company built milestones at COP-26, COP-28 and hopes to strengthen its role as a protagonist in the country's energy transition at COP-30.

In addition, as part of its commitment to combating climate change, since 2018 the company has adopted the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as guidelines for its social and environmental initiatives.

Read more:

• COP-30 in Brazil: what to expect from the biggest global meeting on climate change in 2025
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• Decarbonization: importance and positive impacts