What is the role of the Conference of the Parties (COPs) in climate governance?

The Conference of the Parties (COPs) plays a crucial role in climate governance by serving as a central decision-making body for international climate agreements, notably the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). One of the essential functions of the COPs is to evaluate the progress made by countries in meeting their commitments under various agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol. This assessment helps to ensure accountability and encourages nations to enhance their efforts to combat climate change.

In this capacity, COPs convene periodically to discuss the implementation of climate policies, review the effectiveness of current measures, and identify areas needing improvement. The evaluations allow for adjustments to be made to strategies and frameworks to better address the challenges posed by climate change.

While other functions, such as developing new treaties or enforcing environmental laws, are important in the context of climate governance, the specific task of evaluating progress on existing frameworks like the Kyoto Protocol highlights the COPs' role in fostering collaboration among nations and driving collective action towards climate goals.