COP30 is now underway in Brazil. What actually is it?

The United Nations’ 30th annual climate change conference (COP30) is underway in Belém, Brazil.

Past COPs have seen global commitments, such as the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015.

They have also attracted criticism for “greenwashing,” particularly at COP26.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is not attending, and has not attended a COP since taking office in 2022, raising questions about Australia’s bid to host COP31.

What is COP?

COP30’s attendees are the 198 countries that have signed the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change.

COP is the UN’s largest annual event, and is a “global forum for…discussion of climate change matters” between countries.

The conference was first held in 1995 in Berlin, with around 4,000 attendees. Last year’s edition hosted 50,000.

Notable decisions include the adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP21 in France in 2015.

The agreement binds countries to limit their emissions to ensure global temperatures don’t rise more than 1.5°C above levels recorded during 1850-1900, after which fossil fuel emissions rapidly increased.

The U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2020 under President Donald Trump, rejoined in 2021 under President Joe Biden, and submitted to withdraw again in January 2025 under Trump.

Agenda

This year marks 10 years since the Paris Agreement was signed.

Countries needed to bring a climate change action plan to this summit, showing their short and long-term policies.

This included stating their carbon emissions reduction targets for 2035.

COP criticism

You have read 0 articles this year.

Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.

Previous COPs have drawn protests, including COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.

At the time, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg labelled it a “greenwashing event”.

Thunberg said that world leaders were “creating loopholes... to continue the exploitation of nature and people”.

Protests were also held in Sydney and Melbourne in response to COP26.

At the time, Extinction Rebellion Australia labelled the conference a “sham” and said that the Australian Government “doesn’t take climate action seriously” because it “flaunt[ed] its ties with climate criminals”.

Speaking at COP26, then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison reinforced Australia’s “target of net zero emissions by 2050”. Morrison’s party, the Liberals, are expected to meet this week to discuss whether they will continue with this policy in Opposition.

Kick Big Polluters Out coalition criticised COP28 in Dubai for the “record number of fossil fuel lobbyists” at the event, calling it a “conflict of interest”.

COP31

Australia has bid to host COP31 next year in Adelaide.

Türkiye has also bid for the conference. According to UN rules, the hosting decision must be made by consensus.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson is at COP for the opening, while Energy Minister Chris Bowen is attending the second half of the summit.

Speaking to media in South Korea last month, Albanese did not confirm his attendance.

As Prime Minister, he has never attended a COP.

As Opposition Leader in 2021, Albanese called on then-PM Scott Morrison to attend COP26, saying that “if he doesn’t, that’s because he’s embarrassed about Australia’s position”. Morrison did attend.

Greenpeace COP31 Lead Simon Brayshaw said: “If ever there was a time for Australia to show up, now is that time.”