In 2025, the world’s most important climate event celebrates its 30th anniversary. It’s the COP, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will take place in Brazil this November, in the city of Belém, in the state of Pará.

What is COP and who participates?

The COP is the main international meeting on climate change. It’s the moment when world leaders, representatives of private companies, scientists, activists, and international and non-governmental organizations come together to discuss action plans focused on tackling the climate emergency. The event is organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN body responsible for addressing global warming.

In addition to discussing action plans, COP is also the occasion when global agreements aimed at addressing the climate crisis are made. Throughout its history, the conference has been crucial in establishing important decisions that have influenced everything from government policies to the production methods of companies around the world.

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Why is COP30 important?

The origin of COP

COP originated a few years before its first official convention. It all began in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, during the Rio-92, also known as Eco-92 or the Earth Summit, an event of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. That year, delegations from 175 countries began discussions on plans to combat the impacts of greenhouse gases and make the global economy more sustainable by using resources more rationally and conserving biodiversity.

It was during Rio-92 that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was established—an international treaty for climate cooperation that became the foundation of COPs by instituting limits on the average global temperature increase. From there, the climate conference took shape and, three years later, held its first edition.

Key moments in COP history

1995: COP1 – Berlin, Germany

The first COP was significant for recognizing that the climate commitments made up to that point were insufficient. The Berlin Mandate was established, marking the starting point for developing a more ambitious climate protocol.

1997: COP3 – Kyoto, Japan

The highlight of this meeting was the birth of the Kyoto Protocol, the first global agreement with mandatory targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aimed at developed countries. It took eight years for the involved countries to ratify the agreement, which came into force in 2005 and included specific targets for each participating country.

2000: COP6 – The Hague, Netherlands

Scientists and environmentalists hoped that COP6 would lead governments to agree on a series of technical recommendations for implementing the Kyoto Protocol. However, negotiations reached a deadlock, mainly due to disagreements between Europe and the United States over how to measure greenhouse gases and the penalties for failing to meet targets. The meeting ended without an agreement.

2005: COP11 – Montreal, Canada

This meeting marked the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol and the understanding that long-term targets were needed after the protocol’s expiration, known as the Montreal Action Plan. It was important for initiating more ambitious discussions on carbon emission reductions and for highlighting the climate impacts of deforestation and land use.

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2015: COP21 – Paris, France

Marking 20 years of COP, the meeting in the French capital defined a historic milestone: the Paris Agreement. The commitment, approved by the 195 members of the UNFCCC, established the goal of keeping the global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Countries also agreed to strive to keep the temperature increase below 1.5°C. Notably, just before the conference, many participating countries presented their first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are each country’s climate targets.

2021: COP26 – Glasgow, United Kingdom

COP26 in Glasgow reinforced the understanding from previous years that the 2°C limit is not enough and that the goal should be 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Additionally, the meeting approved the global carbon market, establishing rules for trading carbon credits.

2022: COP27 – Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

The meeting in Egypt brought attention to the need to support countries vulnerable to climate impacts and natural disasters. A loss and damage fund was created to enhance climate justice.

2023: COP28 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Eight years after the Paris Agreement, the Dubai meeting conducted the first global stocktake of the commitment and made it clear that current efforts are still insufficient to meet the established climate goals.

2024: COP29 – Baku, Azerbaijan

COP29 advanced discussions on climate financing and established that developed countries must lead the contribution of at least $300 billion by 2035 so that developing countries can implement actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts.

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What to expect from COP30?

Expectations for the meeting in Brazil—the first held in the Amazon—are high. There is potential for progress in discussions on a just transition, which refers to the shift to a low-carbon economy that leaves no one behind, and for ensuring that multilateral decisions better connect with the regions most affected by the climate crisis.

Conclusion

With a 30-year history in 2025, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has proven essential for guiding discussions on combating the climate emergency and for establishing global agreements that influence decision-making not only in governments but also in the private sector. Without the event, agreements that are fundamental to safeguarding the planet’s future would not have been made.

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