The role of climate conferences: successes and failures

The role of climate conferences: successes and failures

Amid growing concerns about climate change and its countless impacts, the role of climate conferences has emerged as an important platform for scientific discussions, political negotiations and the setting of action plans to combat global warming. Over the years, these conferences have seen both notable successes and bitter failures. This article will discuss the role of climate conferences and their key successes and failures to provide a comprehensive picture of the extent to which they have advanced or hindered the fight against climate change.

History of climate conferences

The history of climate conferences begins in the 1970s, when scientists began to recognize global warming and the greenhouse effect as serious threats to the world's ecosystem. The first international conference on the effects of climate change took place in Geneva in 1979 and laid the foundation for later global meetings.

From the first UN climate conference to the founding of the IPCC

The first UN climate conference (UNCC: United Nations Climate Change Conference) was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995. This is where the “Berlin Mandate” emerged, which emphasized the need to conduct ongoing negotiations about limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

Two years later, in 1997, these negotiations led to the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, named after the Japanese city where the conference took place.

Also notable was the year 1988, which is considered the birth year of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This body, initiated by the UN, is tasked with assessing the current state of science on climate change and developing the impacts and risks, as well as possible adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Key successes of the climate conferences

Climate conferences have helped raise awareness of the need for action to combat climate change and have produced some significant international agreements.

The Kyoto Protocol

One of the greatest successes in the history of climate conferences was the Kyoto Protocol, which was adopted in 1997. It was the first international agreement to set legally binding emissions reduction targets for industrialized countries. By 2020, they should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions on average by at least 5% compared to 1990 levels.

The Paris Agreement

The next significant outcome was the Paris Agreement, adopted at the 21st UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015. The aim of the agreement is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, if possible to 1.5°C, compared to the pre-industrial era. It was signed by 195 countries and includes both developed and developing countries.

Failures and challenges of climate conferences

Despite the successes mentioned, climate conferences have not been without significant challenges and failures.

Inconsistent participation and engagement

A key issue is inconsistent participation and engagement among key stakeholders. For example, in 2017, Donald Trump's administration announced that the United States - one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases - would be withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.

Lack of commitment

Another problem is that many agreements are not binding. The Paris agreement, although a key success, largely relies on voluntary contributions from countries to reduce their emissions, which could limit the agreement's effectiveness.

Conclusion

Climate conferences play a crucial role in promoting global dialogue and setting the agenda for action on climate change. They have produced some notable achievements, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. However, despite these successes, there are still significant challenges, such as the inconsistent participation of key countries and the lack of binding agreements. These issues need to be addressed in future climate conferences to build a stronger and more effective consensus in the fight against climate change.