Why is it important to attend the COP30 Climate Summit?

The U.N. Climate conference generates hundreds of headlines every year about global efforts to save the world from a climate catastrophe. The conference begins in Belem, a Brazilian rainforest city.

What exactly takes place at these annual summits, then? What you should know

WHAT IS A COP? The annual Conference is called a COP. This stands for Conference of the Parties who signed the U.N. Climate Treaty of 1992. The U.N. The Framework on Climate Change Convention, or UNFCCC, committed countries to work together to combat climate change.

The treaty established the principle "common, but differentiated responsibility", which means that the countries with the highest emissions of greenhouse gases have a greater obligation to solve the problem.

Brazil is currently the rotating presidency. It sets the agenda for the summit and works throughout the year to rally government leaders toward common goals and actions. The two-week summit is then hosted by the rotating presidency, now held by Brazil. This draws global attention to the problem while allowing national leaders to exchange ideas and be held accountable.

The annual summits are a hub for geopolitical, financial and civil society discussion. They project the idea of "a global village" which welcomes all nations, businesses, and financiers.

Why should we care about COP30 this year?

This year's climate summit is a momentous occasion for many.

Brazil hosted the Rio Earth Summit, where the UNFCCC Treaty was signed 33 year ago. The country has insisted that the event will return to its roots this year by acknowledging those who are most vulnerable, including indigenous groups. Some of these groups have joined the talks. Brazil has asked nations to focus on implementing past promises such as a COP28 commitment to phase out the use of fossil fuels, instead of making new ones. COP30 also marks the first time that the previous goal of preventing a warming over 1.5 degrees Celsius has been failed. Brazil chose to host COP30 at the Amazonian city of Belem in order to highlight the importance of the world forests, which remain targets for industries such as logging, mining and farming.

Who are the main players at the Summit?

The majority of national governments send teams. Many countries will speak in groups that share similar interests.

The G77+China bloc of developing nations and the Alliance of Small Island States, which faces an existential danger from rising seas are two of the most prominent voices.

The BASIC Group, which includes Brazil, South Africa and India, and the Africa Group are also influential. The United States, which announced in January that it would quit the Paris Climate Change Treaty, has now stepped down from its previous leadership role. China, Brazil, and other countries have filled the void.

What Happens at the Summit?

The sprawling COP Campus is often a hive, with campaigns trying to bring attention to their cause while corporations lobby for policy changes and seek business opportunities. This year, the side events were not held as usual. Instead, financiers met in Sao Paulo and local leaders in Rio de Janeiro. These events were held in conjunction with a gathering of world leaders at Belem to generate support and momentum in preparation for the COP30, which runs from November 10-21.

In the first week of the summit, negotiators from each country will set out their priorities and assess one another's position. Themes will begin to emerge as countries and companies announce their action plans and financial pledges for projects.

During the second week of negotiations, national ministers are usually present to discuss final decisions and legal and technical details.

This sounds easy, right?

The COPs are rarely smooth, as countries compete for deals that suit their national interests and draw red lines. Sometimes the talks can stall and cause acrimony.

Negotiators spend many nights in frantic sessions to find compromises. The countries then reconvene and approve the decisions by consensus rather than unanimity.

The closing session, which is marked by the hammering of a gavel, almost always takes longer than expected - sometimes even several days. Bring snacks. (Reporting and editing by Kati Daigle, David Gregorio, and William James)

(source: Reuters)