The United Nations hosts an international conference called the Conference of the Parties (COP) to debate the steps that must be taken to combat climate change. Government representatives from all over the world gather at these conferences to exchange experiences, discuss the most recent advancements in the fight against climate change, and work toward creating agreements and policies to address climate change.
Every year, governments from various nations host COP, discussing policy progress reports, setting interim goals, and agreeing to share scientific and technological advancements that benefit the world.
A legally binding global climate change accord is known as the Paris Agreement. It was ratified by 196 parties/countries during the Paris Climate Change Conference of the United Nations in 2015, and it became operational on Nov. 4, 2016. Its main objective is to keep the temperature increase to 1.5°C (2.7°F) by the end of this century.
For the first time, a legally enforceable commitment united all nations to fight climate change and adapt to its repercussions, making the Paris Agreement a significant milestone in the multilateral climate change process.
In addition to severe climate change effects, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that exceeding the 1.5°C threshold might lead to more frequent and severe heat waves, droughts and rainfall.
Changes in temperature cause changes in rainfall. This results in more severe and frequent storms. They cause flooding and landslides, destroy homes and communities, and cost billions of dollars.
More areas are experiencing a shortage of water. Droughts can cause destructive sand and dust storms that can carry billions of tons of sand over continents. There is less area available for growing food as deserts grow. Not drinking enough water is a continual risk for many individuals these days.
Global Action and Solutions
Addressing the impact of climate change requires urgent and coordinated global action. Governments, businesses and individuals must work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy sources and adopt sustainable practices.
Nearly 200 nations have ratified the legally binding Paris Agreement, which attempts to keep global warming far below 2°C over pre-industrial levels, with aspirations to keep it to 1.5°C. While progress has been made, much more needs to be done to meet these targets and avert the most catastrophic effects of climate change.
Adaptation strategies, such as building climate-resilient infrastructure, protecting natural habitats and improving disaster preparedness, are essential to mitigating the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. Governments must also invest in education and research to develop new technologies and solutions that can help address the crisis.
In addition, efforts to conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystems are critical to maintaining the natural systems that provide food, clean water and other essential services to humanity.
COP29 Outcomes
On Nov. 24, 2024, the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, came to an end with a deal urging developed nations to provide developing nations with at least $300 billion annually by 2035 to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard lives and livelihoods from the escalating effects of climate change.
According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ COP29 statement, “This agreement provides a base on which to build.”
“The new finance goal agreed at the UN Climate Conference in Baku is an insurance policy for humanity,” UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized.
“This deal will keep the clean energy boom growing and protect billions of lives. It will help all countries to share in the huge benefits of bold climate action: more jobs, stronger growth, cheaper and cleaner energy for all. But like any insurance policy—it only works—if the premiums are paid in full and on time.”
Stiell acknowledged that no country got everything it wanted and that the world left Baku with a mountain of work to do. “So, this is no time for victory laps. We must set our sights and redouble our efforts on the road to Belém.” (COP30 will convene in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.)
Who is Who?
We often hear about politicians, diplomats and national government representatives being invited to COP, but they are far from being the only ones who attend the conference. Many others join, aiming to influence the outcome—some to push forward climate action and justice, others to advance their own interests. For example, many fossil fuel lobbyists join the talks to attempt to protect their industry from much-needed action to keep coal, oil and gas in the ground.
At COP27, we found that there were twice as many fossil fuel lobbyists as delegates from the official UN constituency for Indigenous Peoples. And at COP28 in Dubai, we found a record number of industry lobbyists, with nearly 2,500 descending on the talks.
On the opposing side, there are land and environmental defenders, including Indigenous Peoples, calling for greater protections for their territories against exploitation by environmentally destructive industries such as logging, mining and industrial agribusiness. Climate organizations such as Global Witness attend with partners to advocate for rapid and ambitious action to tackle the climate crisis while ensuring a just transition.
However, there are often barriers in place—regulatory, economic, legal and physical—that prevent environmental activists and civil society organizations from meaningfully participating in these global decision-making processes. Unfortunately, those most affected by the climate emergency are not the ones who have the final say at the conference.
What was agreed at COP28 last year?
After a damning verdict from the first-ever Global Stocktake (an assessment of how on track countries are to fulfill 2016’s Paris Agreement), countries at the climate summit in Dubai renewed their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For the first time in 28 years of negotiations, nearly 200 countries agreed to “transition away” from fossil fuels.
Countries arguing for a “phase out” of fossil fuels were met with resistance from a coalition of petrostates—including Saudi Arabia and Russia—which ensured that the text of the final pledge was diluted.
In the absence of an explicit call for a “phase out” (or even the less stringent “phase down”), and with no legally binding document in play, the fossil fuel industry still has plenty of leeway to continue with business as usual. For example, a Global Witness investigation found that ADNOC (the United Arab Emirates’ state-run petrochemicals company, which Al-Jaber steers as CEO), sought up to $100 billion of fossil fuel deals in the UAE’s year as COP28 host—a four-times increase on its dealmaking the year before.
Leaders at the climate summit also agreed to a net zero food plan, which would see the world’s food systems overhauled to become a carbon sink by 2050. Yet, the declaration failed to mention the role of agriculture in driving more than 90% of tropical deforestation.
U.S. Climate Change Policy
One of the most urgent issues facing the world now is climate change, and how the United States addresses it varies significantly depending on political ideology. The Democratic and Republican parties in the United States have differing views on the causes of climate change, its implications and the necessary policies to address it. These differences are rooted in their broader political ideologies, economic priorities and approaches to regulation and governance.
Democratic Party
The Democratic Party mostly agrees with the overwhelming body of scientific evidence that human activity—specifically, the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and industrial operations—is the primary driver of climate change. This position is based on evidence provided by the IPCC and other scientific bodies, which point to the accelerated rise in global temperatures, melting ice caps, rising sea levels and increased extreme weather events as direct consequences of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
Democrats support all-encompassing climate action with the goals of lowering greenhouse gas emissions, switching to renewable energy and lessening the effects of climate change on populations who are already at risk.
To create green jobs and lessen wealth inequality, the party has fought for important legislative initiatives including the Green New Deal, which calls for a quick switch to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal. The Green New Deal embodies the bold policy direction Democrats desire, even though it has not been passed.
One of the party’s key priorities has been rejoining the Paris Agreement, which President Biden did upon taking office in 2021. In stark contrast to the previous administration’s decision to withdraw from the pact under President Trump, rejoining this treaty shows a commitment to global climate goals.
Regulation and Innovation
In general, Democrats are in favor of stricter environmental laws. The Biden administration has prioritized initiatives that decarbonize the economy and advance sustainable energy technology. One example of the kind of climate change legislation the Democrats support is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was passed in 2022.
The IRA includes incentives for electric vehicle adoption, renewable energy development and tax credits for households and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. This reflects the Democratic belief that public investment in green technologies and infrastructure is crucial to moving away from fossil fuels.
Furthermore, Democrats generally advocate for an increased role of government in addressing climate change. This is demonstrated by their backing of more stringent emission regulations for automobiles and power plants as well as their financial contributions to energy-efficiency initiatives, clean energy research and public transit. They also support a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system, which would price carbon emissions and incentivize businesses to reduce their environmental impact.
Environmental Justice and Equity
A significant aspect of the Democratic climate agenda is its emphasis on environmental justice. The party recognizes that low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by climate change, pollution and the health impacts of environmental degradation. As a result, Democratic leaders often call for policies that prioritize these communities in the transition to a green economy. This includes creating job opportunities in renewable energy sectors and ensuring that communities have access to clean air and water.
Republican Party
The Republican Party, on the other hand, is opposed to regulation and favors market-based solutions. It has historically been more skeptical of the notion that the main cause of climate change is human activity. While many Republicans acknowledge the existence of climate change, they tend to downplay its severity and oppose policies that they view as economically burdensome.
Republican views are often shaped by the belief in limited government intervention, a free-market economy and an emphasis on energy independence and security.
Climate Change and Scientific Consensus
Many Republicans, particularly those aligned with fossil fuel industries, remain suspicious about the extent of human influence on climate change. Some argue that climate change is part of a natural cycle rather than a consequence of human activity. While more Republicans are beginning to acknowledge the reality of climate change, they are often reluctant to accept the science-driven consensus that urgent action is needed.
Energy Policy and Regulation
Republicans typically oppose aggressive government regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that such policies could stifle economic growth, lead to job losses and increase consumer energy prices. This opposition is particularly evident in the party’s stance on renewable energy mandates and regulations targeting fossil fuels. One important component of the Obama administration’s climate strategy, the Clean Power Plan, aimed to lower emissions from coal-fired power plants, but Republicans have resisted it.
In place of top-down regulations, Republicans favor market-based solutions to address climate change. They support initiatives that encourage private-sector innovation in renewable energy but without heavy government involvement.
Republican lawmakers often advocate for reducing subsidies for renewable energy and instead promoting all forms of energy production, including fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal, arguing that an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy is necessary to ensure energy security and lower consumer costs.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
While Republicans are more reluctant to commit to ambitious emission reductions, they often emphasize adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change. This entails actions like investing in water management systems, bolstering infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events and enhancing community resilience to the effects of climate change.
In addition, some Republicans back programs that focus on technology advancements like carbon capture and storage (CCS), which might lower emissions from fossil fuels without requiring a complete switch away from them.
International Climate Policy
On the international scene, Republicans tend to be less excited about multilateral accords such as the Paris Agreement. They contend that these accords hurt U.S. companies while letting nations like China and India continue to emit without facing the same restrictions.
During President Trump’s administration, the United States withdrew from the Paris Agreement, citing the potential harm to the U.S. economy and the belief that the agreement was unfair. While the Biden administration reversed this decision, many Republicans view international climate agreements as economically detrimental and ineffective in addressing global emissions.
Conclusion
The policy differences between Democrats and Republicans on climate change reflect deeper ideological divides in American politics.
Democrats favor ambitious government-led action to combat climate change, focusing on regulation, renewable energy and environmental justice. They emphasize the need for global cooperation and innovation in green technologies to address the climate crisis.
In contrast, Republicans prioritize market-based solutions, energy independence and technological innovation while opposing heavy regulation and international agreements that they view as economically harmful.
As the climate crisis intensifies, these differences will continue to shape the U.S. approach to climate change, influencing the nation’s environmental future and its part in the worldwide fight against global warming.
The impact of climate change is far-reaching and touches every aspect of life on earth. Its effects are already being felt, from extreme weather events to rising sea levels and economic disruptions.
Addressing climate change will require a collective, global effort to reduce emissions, adapt to new realities and build a more sustainable future for future generations. Time is running out, and the actions we take today will determine the course of our planet’s future.
