The COPs as Carnivals
I am often asked what these "Conference of the Parties" - or COPs - are like. COP 27 in Egypt is the 13th COP I have attended. Each one is distinct, but they are similar as a type of climate change carnival. I present this metaphor descriptively and not critically. At the COPs there are five different types of activities going on simultaneously. One, of course, is the negotiation sessions - meetings in which country delegates negotiate a wide range of climate change issues. Second, there are side events. These are typically panels much like one might experience at an academic or professional conference. The side event topics address both technical and human dimensions of the climate crisis. Third, booths or exhibits are featured. These are presented primarily by non-government organizations. The exhibits present materials from those organizations. Fourth, the COPs include numerous Pavilions, most of which are country-specific. Among my favorites are the Indonesian Pavilion, the European Union Pavilion, and this year, the Civil Society Pavilion. Each Pavilion schedules its own side events. Finally, The COPs feature Hubs, such as the Capacity Building Hub. My organizations - Mediators Beyond Borders International and the International Environmental Communication Association, are the lead and supporting partners respectively for "Open Space Learning Day" at the Hub. Just like a carnival, there is a lot of activity - with challenging choices of where to invest one's time!
I am interested in the side event topics. What are the technical dimensions of climate change vs. the human dimensions? What is the importance of each? Should one be focused on more than the other?
ReplyDeleteTechnical dimensions typically include issues such as finance, carbon credits, clean development mechanisms - issues often tied to mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions). Human dimensions include gender, indigenous voices, governance, education, communication - issues often associated with adaptation.
DeleteI am pretty interested in how the Pavilions differentiate from each other. What side events are held in each one and do the events relate back to where they originate from?
ReplyDeleteAre you allowed to share photos from inside the Pavillions? Is photography allowed?
DeleteDoes the United States hold a Pavilion? Have they in the past?
ReplyDeleteAfter the negotiation sessions, is there any group that publishes the conclusions that have been drawn in the discussions, and if so, where would these reports be located?
ReplyDeleteGoogle Earth Negotiations Bulletin, published by IISD. Also google COP 27 outcomes. A lot of places discuss them.
DeleteWhat are some of your favorite non-government organizations that have had booths or exhibits?
ReplyDeleteIs there a country that historically has had really good or interesting pavilions? Or is there any regulation to them so that they are more uniform?
ReplyDeletehave you ever participated as a speaker for the "side activities"? and if so, which did you participate in and what was your topic?
ReplyDeleteAs you discuss the wide variety of activities, the first thing that comes to mind is intercultural communication barriers. What steps does the conference take to facilitate objective and cooperative negotiations? How do they navigate language barriers? Is there any kind of training or agreement that takes place before these events?
ReplyDeleteYou've been to 13 COP's, is there 1 you feel like was the most productive/effective/impactful on reducing emmisions?
ReplyDeleteCould you please explain more what the Civil Society Pavilion entails, and who is in charge of running/managing this specific Pavilion.
ReplyDeleteI figure the first booth is the most important but where do you often spend most of your time at the events? After 13 years of experience is there a specific order you do things or proceed?
ReplyDeleteIf a person were to attend a COP for the first time, what would be your version of the best itinerary for them to follow. Do you think the negotiation sessions are more beneficial than the pavilions? Is there a specific booth that everyone MUST go to? How would you plan their trip so that they have the best educational experience?
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting way of explaining what the conferences are like, but it definitely gets the point across. Maybe you could call it a convention instead of a carnival to avoid negative interpretation? What is your opinion about this system; do you think it works better or worse than a more unified system?
ReplyDeleteAre these conferences open for anyone to attend or how do you go about becoming qualified enough in climate change to attend these meetings?
ReplyDeleteHow long do these events usually go on for? Is there any chance of being able to attend every pavilion or is it too short of a time?
ReplyDeleteIs this something that you are invited to or something that you can just attend? I assume it is an invite type thing as if it were not then many climate change deniers might rally there in hopes of causing trouble.
ReplyDeleteGiven your diligent dedication in attending 13 COP conferences over your life, I am extremely interested in knowing which COP conference has primarily shaped your perspective on climate change or maybe made you question some of the prior knowledge you have. Also which conference do you believe would have been most beneficial to take someone who has no prior experience and/or opinions on climate change.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the COPs serve as sort of a center of activity surrounding different areas of engagement on climate policy. You mentioned the side events are structured similarly to academic conferences, is the COP sort of the main event of the year for academic discussion of climate policy or are there similar academic conferences that are also noteworthy? I'm sure there are regional conferences but more than one or two global conferences seems unlikely.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of credibility does someone need to speak at these COPs? Can anyone sign up, or is their a standard/list of requirements that needs to be accomplished to be able to advocate your speech?
ReplyDeleteYou mention that country delegates attend the COPs, have you ever had the opportunity to speak to one of them? Also, which country's delegates are present at the COPs, are most nations represented?
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about the negotiation sessions - if you were present at any for this year's COP, did any conclusive negotiations occur? Or what were some of the more prominent negotiations that occurred at previous COPs you attended?
ReplyDeleteDo countries/corporations present at the technical side events? Do you feel that they are biased towards the interests of whoever is presenting or are they purely academic?
ReplyDeleteStudent ID: 934427394
DeleteWhat types of people attend the different activities. Do people in different level of powers attend different ones or lead ones. I am very curious on how different governments and people choose to dedicate there time at these events?
ReplyDeleteIn regards to those booths and exhibits: what do you think non-governmental organizations do right with the marketing of climate action? Sometimes I see climate science activists not selling an appealing image for positive change, like just showing academic papers and scientific figures.
ReplyDeleteYou talk about the main event being the discussion of issues between delegates, it would be pretty interesting if the live-streamed these discussions and if they did, where would the be found?
ReplyDeleteAre there many companies represented at these events? It would be interesting to know which companies actually support the "green" movement, as it's currently just trendy to participate in cardboard packaging and such.
ReplyDeleteWhat has been the most important thing you've taken away from participating in COP?
ReplyDeleteWhile it seems really cool for each country/organization to show off how much money on average does an organization's Pavilion cost? and is it enough where it could be better spent somewhere else?
ReplyDeleteIt is really cool how they can make a climate change event into such a fun festival. It adds a fun element to an important issue, which may draw larger audiences.
ReplyDeleteWith all of the meetings, side events, and booths/exhibits happening all at once, how would one choose which activities to attend? How have you personally divided your time? For me personally, I would feel like I would be missing out on so much if all of this was happening at once. Are there resources for accessing elements of the COP that you missed?
ReplyDeleteDoes the atmosphere of the COPs vary significantly depending on what part of it is occurring? Is the entirety of all events more serious and somber due to the topics that are being discussed, or is there any lightness within the event? Also, are the panels and booths throughout the event catered to people with different levels of scientific knowledge? Are some panels intended for viewing by scientific experts, while others may be more viewed by journalists?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so exciting! I'm curious as to what the energy is like at these events. Does the language barrier ever get in the way? How do people interact with each other? I think it's so cool that everyone who does attend COPs has a genuine interest in the climate and making an impact. How does one register to attend these events?
ReplyDeleteI've attended a few conferences for the Peace Corps and the one thing I was obsessed with was the food. What were the most significant cultural experiences you got to encounter while meeting with such a diverse group? Was there a specific panel or group that gave your hope towards external change and was it with the younger generations or were you seeing it with more of the older generations and the inclusion of both?
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to hear about all the different events that are going on, although I can imagine that everything becomes a little hectic. I noticed at the end of your blog how you compared the Climate Change conferences to a carnival and how there are "challenging choices of where to invest one's time." Which raised the question for me, how do you tend to devote your time? Out of the five different types of activities that you mentioned, is there one that you typically attend more than the others? A potential favorite?
ReplyDeleteHow prestigious does a non-Government organization need to be to present at one of the climate conventions? sure you have lots of very smart and reputable experts but they are then lined up next to personalities like Greta Thunberg. do you think personalities like thunberg add to or take away from the push for real change in the way we use our resources.
ReplyDeleteDo organizations get invited to these conferences? Is there some sort of application process your association has to go through?
ReplyDeleteIt is always very interesting to hear about your experiences at the conference. Are there any changes that you think should be made to better the COPs in the future?
ReplyDeleteClimate Change affects us on a global scale and international cooperation is clearly necessary to address the issue. How have you seen cultural difference affect values and cooperation?
ReplyDeleteWhen I first envisioned the COP I thought it was mainly negotiations and maybe a few exhibits so hearing about all of these different events that also happen was pretty surprising to me. It definitely sounds more interactive and fun with all the different events, and they are probably a great way to get more people involved and motivated, even if they are not a negotiator. One question I have is out of all these events, which one expanded your perspective on climate change the most?
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