The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is holding its yearly gathering, COP31, in Antalya, Türkiye. This conference brings together government negotiators from around the world to advance priorities under the UNFCCC and its subsidiary agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
Critiques of COP31 have appeared in the press, with remarks from Greta Thunberg describing the gatherings as full of “hypocrisy” and opportunities for countries to “whitewash themselves.” These critiques are fair, given the failures of the UNFCCC process to deliver emission reductions over its 30+ years.
The Shortfalls of COP
The shortfalls of COP are obvious: international environmental law instruments and actors are struggling to reach their goals through UNFCCC mechanisms. Emissions are rising, not falling. A recent UN report showed that the world will miss its Paris Agreement goal of keeping warming to within 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
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This COP is being called the “implementation COP,” which acknowledges that prior COPs have not led to the adoption of solutions. The failures have many causes, but the sclerotic UNFCCC processes have not helped. Diplomatic efforts at these meetings are often formalistic, procedural, and disconnected from the way progress is made in the real world.
The Side Event COP
However, there is another side of COP, known as the “Side Event COP,” where scientists, farmers, artists, indigenous people, students, nonprofit advocates, researchers, funders, storytellers, and non-federal government officials gather to share ideas and work towards implementation. This side of COP is more productive and has a lot to offer.
The Side Event COP is made up of over 90,000 credentialed participants, including Lynda Hopkins, a farmer and local government leader from Sonoma, California, and Habiba Daggash of Nigeria, who works on methane reduction across Africa. These individuals come to COP to meet and collaborate with a broad range of partners and stakeholders.
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Side Event COP allows participants to immerse themselves in any micro-issue related to climate, such as soil health and climate change, or reducing methane emissions from landfills. The activity feels dynamic and hopeful, with many opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
A Different Perspective
While critiques of COP focus on the failures of formal party negotiations, the Side Event COP offers a different perspective. It is an embodiment of the community that has grown up alongside annual diplomatic meetings, and it is free to be creative in structuring discussions and open to serendipitous encounters.
Conclusion of COP31
As COP31 comes to a close, it’s clear that the Side Event COP has been a highlight of the conference. With its focus on collaboration, creativity, and solution-driven discussions, it offers a refreshing alternative to the formal negotiations. The Side Event COP provides a sense of hope for a more productive and effective approach to addressing this global issue, and its impact will likely be felt in the years to come.