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| Conference of the Parties 24 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Conference of the Parties 24 |
| Caption | Delegates at Katowice |
| Date | December 2018 |
| Venue | International Congress Centre, Katowice |
| Location | Katowice, Poland |
| Participants | Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |
Conference of the Parties 24 was the twenty-fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in December 2018 in Katowice at the International Congress Centre, Katowice. The session aimed to finalize implementation guidance for the Paris Agreement adopted at COP21 in Paris and advance negotiations among state parties including delegations from United States, China, India, European Union, and Brazil. The presidency of the meeting was held by the Government of Poland with prominent participation from agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme, World Meteorological Organization, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The conference followed a series of multilateral climate processes including the United Nations Climate Change Conference cycle that featured prior presidencies like COP23 in Bonn and the landmark COP21 in Paris. Preparatory tracks were shaped by reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change including the 1.5 °C Special Report, which was produced in conjunction with scientific bodies such as the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the Met Office. Political context involved high-profile decisions by national leaders such as Donald Trump of the United States and policy shifts in countries like Poland and Australia, while civil society actors including Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, and 350.org mobilized around climate justice themes.
Negotiations centered on implementing the Paris Agreement rulebook, addressing transparency frameworks, market mechanisms under Article 6, and nationally determined contributions (NDCs) from countries including China, India, United States, Russia, and members of the European Union. Delegates debated modalities referenced in prior accords like the Kyoto Protocol and mechanisms linked to the Clean Development Mechanism and carbon trading systems advocated by stakeholders such as the International Emissions Trading Association. Technical discussions invoked guidance from institutions like the Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, and experts from Stockholm Environment Institute and Grantham Research Institute. Negotiators confronted issues raised by blocs including the Least Developed Countries, the African Union, and the Alliance of Small Island States concerning loss and damage, finance, and adaptation.
The meeting produced the Katowice Climate Package, which provided detailed guidance for implementing the transparency framework of the Paris Agreement, aligning reporting formats favored by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and administrative bodies like the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Parties reached provisional text on Article 6 mechanisms though left key issues unresolved, affecting multilateral frameworks similar to the mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol. Finance outcomes involved reiteration of commitments to the Green Climate Fund and to support adaptation frameworks championed by groups such as the Adaptation Fund and initiatives from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The conference acknowledged the findings of the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C and invited enhanced ambition from major emitters including China, India, United States, European Commission, and Japan.
Delegations included national ministers and envoys from countries such as Poland, United States, China, India, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and members of the European Union. High-level attendees featured representatives from international organizations including the United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, World Bank, and Green Climate Fund. Non-state participants comprised representatives from environmental NGOs like Greenpeace, Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, research institutions such as the International Institute for Environment and Development, and private sector actors including energy firms and trade associations like the International Emissions Trading Association and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
A dense program of side events showcased initiatives by actors such as European Investment Bank, Asian Development Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and corporate participants including Microsoft and IKEA on renewable energy, decarbonization, and innovation. Scientific briefings featured researchers from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Space Agency, and universities including Oxford University, Harvard University, and University of Warsaw. Civil society organized demonstrations and forums led by groups like 350.org, Extinction Rebellion, and indigenous delegations associated with the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs advocating for recognition of loss and damage and traditional knowledge in climate policies.
Reception among state parties, NGOs, and media such as The Guardian, New York Times, BBC, and Al Jazeera was mixed: the Katowice Package was lauded by some diplomats and institutions like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat and European Commission for creating operational rules, while critics including Friends of the Earth and scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change argued that the package lacked sufficient ambition on emissions targets and finance commitments. Controversy arose over the role of fossil fuel lobbies and coal interests tied to companies from Poland and other states, drawing scrutiny from investigative outlets like Reuters and NGOs such as Corporate Accountability International. Analysts at think tanks including the Brookings Institution, Chatham House, and World Resources Institute highlighted persistent gaps in Article 6 provisions and climate finance pledges.
Category:United Nations climate change conferences