30 Climate COPs Later

Stories from Canadian Participants

Thomas Burelli, Alexandre Lillo, Lauren Touchant, Lynda Hubert Ta, Elie Klee

• Publisher: Duo
• Year: 2025
• Topic: Literature
• eBook ISBN:
  9780776645582
• Subtopic: Environment & Energy Policy
• Index: Literature

Since their inception, the United Nations Climate Change Conferences—or Conference of the Parties (COPs)—have shaped the global response to climate change. These high-stakes gatherings bring together world leaders, scientists, activists, and policymakers to negotiate the future of our planet. Yet, despite increasing media attention, the inner workings of these forums remain complex and often misunderstood.

As COP30 takes place in 2025, 30 Climate COP Later takes a critical look at the past three decades of climate negotiations. Have these conferences driven real progress? Through the voices of key Canadian figures—diplomats, scientists, NGO leaders, journalists, and policymakers—this book offers a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on the triumphs, setbacks, and turning points that have defined the COPs.

With firsthand accounts and candid reflections, contributors share personal experiences, pivotal moments, and insights into Canada's evolving role in international climate diplomacy. From historic agreements to missed opportunities, their stories provide a nuanced view of the challenges and achievements of global climate negotiations.

Written for a wide audience—including students, professionals, and anyone passionate about climate action—this book sheds light on the COP process and its impact. As the climate crisis intensifies, it asks a pressing question: Can these negotiations still deliver the solutions we so urgently need?

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• List of Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 COP 101: Understanding What Climate COPs Are
• Chapter 2 History of the COP from COP1 to COP30
• Chapter 3 So COP, What Have You Done with Your Life?
• Chapter 4 A Fair, Funded, and Fossil-Free Future: A Parliamentarian’s Role in International Climate Action
• Chapter 5 COPs Are Important Gatherings: They Keep Climate Change on the Map
• Chapter 6 What It Takes to Represent Canada at Climate COPs: A Federal Government Perspective
• Chapter 7 What Now? A Millennial’s Take on a Decade of COPs
• Chapter 8 Advancing Decarbonization and Decolonization: Lessons from Indigenous Peoples Participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Chapter 9 ᓯᓚ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᔨᓐᓇᐃᖅᑐᖅ— Sila Ajjiu junnaiqtuq— The Weather Has Changed: Inuit Perspectives and Experiences from 30 Years of Climate Change COPs
• Chapter 10 Otipemisiwak and Climate Leadership: The Métis Nation at UNFCCC
• Chapter 11 The UNFCCC COP: An Imperfect—and Essential— Civic Space for Climate Multilateralism
• Chapter 12 Municipalities on the Front Line: Local Voices in Global Climate Policy
• Chapter 13 COPs Are Slow, But Cities Are on the Go
• Chapter 14 From 2015 to COVID, We Were Still Dreaming
• Chapter 15 The UN Climate Conferences: A Driver for “Impact Intrapreneurship”
• Chapter 16 The Business of COP: How the Corporate Sector Took on Climate
• Chapter 17 Good COP, Bad COP: 20 Years of Climate Change Negotiations
• List of Contributors