The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat was established in 1992 when countries adopted the UNFCCC. The secretariat organises and supports up to four negotiating sessions each year, the largest being the Conference of the Parties (COP), which is hosted in different locations around the globe.
COP25 is being held in Madrid, Spain, from 2-13 December 2019 under the presidency of the Chilean government and with logistical support from the Spanish government. The COP serves two main purposes: 1. To review the implementation of the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, respectively; and 2. To adopt decisions to further develop and implement these three instruments.
UNFCCC climate change conferences have grown in size during the past two decades, from small working sessions to the largest annual conferences currently held under the auspices of the UN. The intergovernmental negotiations involve officials from governments all over the world at all levels, as well as huge numbers of representatives from civil society and the global news media.
For COP25, IEMA has collaborated with ISO and other partners to secure an official side event titled 'Carbon Neutral Transitions and Standards as a Measure, Reduce, Compensate Toolkit'. This event includes a keynote on Costa Rica's leadership, examples via the UNFCCC Climate Neutral Now programme, the role of international standards, and IEMA profession-based experience and information. Nick Blyth, IEMA policy lead, is presenting, drawing on recent surveys and IEMA workshops on the challenge of transitioning to 'net zero' and the (in-practice) use of IEMA's Greenhouse Gas Management Hierarchy. This important 'insight work' follows IEMA's declaration this year of a climate and environmental emergency, and has been supported by the IEMA Climate Change and Energy Network.
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