Climate COP

What is a COP? 

COP stands for 'Conference of the Parties', which are regular United Nations (UN) conferences on its different conventions (written legal agreements between countries and the UN).   

The next climate COP (COP31) is taking place from 9th to 20th November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye. 
 

What happens at COP?

COP31 will bring together world leaders to review, agree and hopefully accelerate global action to tackle climate change.   

In short, this is where the governments of our world come together annually to discuss climate change. What new things do we know from last year? How are we doing in combating the changes? What do the future projections look like now? What will the countries all agree to do next? 

The Paris Agreement: 10 years on

In 2015, Parties signed the Paris Agreement which aims (among other things) to limit global temperature increase to ‘well below’ 2°C. 

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are causing this temperature rise, and the world exceeded 1.5°C of warming above pre-industrial levels for the first time in 2024/25. Under the Agreement, countries should reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

COP30 in 2025 marked 10 years since the Paris Agreement. To stop climate change from getting worse, we must:

1. stabilise levels of greenhouse gases
2. reach net zero emissions

Yet the world is far off track achieving that. 

Carbon dioxide is at record concentrations, and the global temperature has jumped upwards, and continues to climb. These changes are already having devastating effects on people and nature globally, from catastrophic flooding to the loss of many warm-water corals.  

A core part of the Paris Agreement is a requirement that the Parties make Nationally Determined Contributions every five years – these are pledges setting out how they will cut emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

Get updates from COP31

We’ll be sharing updates during COP30 to explain more about what this conference aims to achieve and to reflect on the outcomes. 

You can also join our WhatsApp Channel, where we’ll share videos, blogs and other updates from COP31.  

History of the Convention

In 1992, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was created at the Rio Earth Summit. The ultimate objective of the Convention is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations "at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human induced) interference with the climate system". 

The Convention has now been signed by 198 nations and territories (the Parties). Each year the climate COPs are held to review progress, make key decisions and negotiate agreements to coordinate climate action under both the UN Framework and the Paris Agreement. 

You can make a difference

Every bit of warming matters when it comes to climate change, therefore all emissions matter, and every action we take to reduce our impact matters. Protecting nature in our communities not only helps wildlife but helps us adapt to the impacts of climate change too. From taking personal action to contacting your MP, there’s small things we can all do to help. If you’re inspired to take action, have a look at our top tips to guide you.  

Things you can do about climate change