COP stands for Conference of the Parties, the major decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Every year, almost all countries gather to review progress on climate actions, negotiate commitments and further strengthen their cooperation under the Paris Agreement.
The first COP was held in 1995 in Berlin. And since then, these conferences have become the world’s largest and most influential summits highlighting the issue of climate change.
Why are COP conferences important?
COP meetings are assemblies where nations reflect and assess their collective progress towards limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C, a point at which there would be severe consequences for the global climate.
They also define mechanisms for climate finance, adaptation and mitigation, ensuring accountability for emission reduction pledges.
In the UK, decisions that result in COP have influence and guide the domestic climate laws, the NET Zero strategies and other related policies on energy, industry and transport.
What are some of the key milestones?
- COP21 (Paris, 2015): the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement and the commitment of nearly 200 countries to submit and update the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- COP26 (Glasgow, 2021): the delivery of the Glasgow Climate Pact, which advanced carbon market rules and a renewed commitment to the 1.5°C threshold.
- COP28 (Dubai, 2023): the call for a transition away from fossil fuels and the first global stocktake assessed worldwide.
- COP29 (Baku, 2024): the discussion was dominated by negotiating a new global finance target.
- COP30 (Brazil, 2025): agreement on a climate finance package by parties involved and accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
What are the key takeaways from COP30 in Belém, Brazil?
COP30, held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025, produced a mixed package of progress and gaps. The key negotiated outcome from the conference was the Mutirao Decision, which is a global mobilisation of humanity against climate change. Countries agreed on mobilising at least USD 1.3 trillion per year in climate finance by 2035, including a political signal to triple adaptation finance for developing countries by 2035 (to around USD 120bn per year). Parties also advanced work on the Global Goal on Adaptation, agreeing on indicators to track resilience-building, and endorsed new steps on just transition to help countries shift towards lower-carbon economies.
However, negotiations failed to secure a binding roadmap to phase out fossil fuels. Attempts to include stronger “transitioning away” language in the core decision text did not achieve consensus; instead, the presidency committed to developing separate, non-binding roadmaps on fossil fuels and forests, leaving many observers arguing that ambition still lags behind what is needed for a 1.5°C-consistent pathway.
Belém also placed forests, nature and Indigenous peoples at centre stage, with around USD 1.8bn pledged for Indigenous land rights and record Indigenous participation. Overall, UN climate leadership framed COP30 as proof that “climate cooperation is alive and kicking”, even as analysts warned that the implementation and ambition gaps remain significant.
So… can COP deliver change?
There is no simple answer to this question, but COP remains the only global forum where almost every nation can agree on shared rules, measurement frameworks and finance directions. as COP30 demonstrated on how it was a mix of progress in finance adaptation and lack of demanding and strong language on the phasing-out of fossil fuels.
Even UN leadership framed the outcome as imperfect but illustrative of continued multilateral viability in turbulent conditions. In other words, the process is there but the global emissions trajectory is also alive and well, which demands stronger implementations and political alignments.
How do COP decisions affect the UK?
In the UK, COP outcomes are considered less as abstract diplomacy and more as signals of future regulatory and market expectations. The UK’s own climate policies are heavily shaped by outcomes agreed upon at COP. With the recent shift of focus towards trade and climate alignment in COP30, these decisions influence several policies, such as:
- Carbon pricing and emissions-trading frameworks (UK ETS),
- Industrial decarbonisation and green-finance regulations,
- Adaptation funding for vulnerable communities, and
- Global carbon border measures, such as CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms).
As the UK continues to refine the UK ETS and prepare for its own CBAM, businesses that can demonstrate transparent emissions baselines, decarbonisation actions and verified reporting will be best placed to manage both compliance risk and commercial expectations.
How can iCOR support organisations with relevant COP policy outcomes?
iCOR helps organisations with compliance with UK legislation that is affected by COP outcomes, by reducing reliance on spreadsheets, saving time, and feeling more confident about legal and operational risk and compliance. The platform includes a self-audit tool that maps applicable environmental, climate-related and health and safety legislation into a tailored legal register, and allows you to track compliance actions, assign responsibilities, and present your progress.
Book a demo here to learn how iCOR can help you align with COP policy outcomes that are relevant to the UK, turning compliance into an integrated and continuous process that is accessible to everyone.
.