What Are COP Meetings For? Does It Matter Who Hosts?
Countries are set to complete a once-every-five-years assessment of where the world is at in meeting its climate targets.
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For almost three decades, the United Nations has been holding an annual summit on the climate known as COP, which stands for Conference of the Parties. Delegates travel to a chosen city from around the world to try to find ways to prevent or ameliorate the worst effects of global warming. Experience has shown that progress can hinge on a variety of factors — including which country is hosting. Eyebrows were raised when the United Arab Emirates, one of the biggest oil producers in OPEC, was selected as the location for this year’s COP28.