The stage was set for COP 28 in Dubai, the colloquial name for the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2023. Held in Dubai from November 30th to December 12th, this event brought together representatives from the 198 parties that had endorsed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), originally established in Brazil in 1992. Traditionally held annually in various cities since 1995, the exception was COP 26 in Glasgow, which was postponed by a year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. COPs served as crucial annual forums where UN representatives and government officials worldwide collaborated to devise strategies to combat climate change on a global scale.
Attendance at COPs encompassed representatives from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, totaling 198 parties, including UN member states, General Assembly observers, and the European Union. In addition to governmental representation, diverse stakeholders such as charities, scientists, journalists, indigenous groups, and the general public were also present. Following the conference, participating parties typically released a collective statement outlining their plans to address the urgent issues of global warming and climate change.
The concept of COPs traced back to the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992. This pivotal international conference, organized by the United Nations, was prompted by escalating environmental concerns. Recognizing the imperative for collaborative efforts, world leaders signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international environmental treaty involving 154 states. The treaty mandated regular meetings, subsequently termed Conferences of the Parties or COPs. The inaugural COP took place in Berlin, Germany, in 1995
