From the Desk of Dr. Rattan Lal
Conference of Parties (COP) is held annually ever since the first COP in Berlin in 1995, and it was attended by 118 countries. The COP meeting in 1997 was organized in Japan and is well known as the “Kyoto Protocol.” The Paris Accord was signed at COP21 held in Paris in 2015, and 4 per 1000 (sequestration of Carbon in world soils at the rate of 0.4% per year to 40-cm depth) was also launched at COP21. In response to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco in 2016 launched the initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) to improve food security and adapt farming systems in Africa to anthropogenic climate change. The COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in 2022 included a historic commitment by developed economies to financially support developing nations from the damage and economic losses caused by global warming. The term “Soil Health” was included in the recommendation at COP28 in Dubai, UAE and COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan focused on technical rules for international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement. COP30 will be held in Belém, Brazil in November 2025.
The number of participants (in thousands) who attended the COP was 37.3 in Kyoto, 38 in Paris, 22.5 in Marrakech, 35 in Sharm-El-Sheikh, 85 in Dubai, and 65 in Baku. The number of participants expected to attend COP30 in Belém, Brazil is 50k which will include up to 150 Heads of State (over ¾ of 193 member states of the United Nations). With participants of 50 to 75k including 100 to 150 Heads of State, managing an annual meeting of COPs is a big business for airlines, hotels, restaurants, and hospitality organizations including security for Heads of State and high-level government officials.
It is needless to state that COPs have made significant contributions, especially to enhancing awareness about anthropogenic global warming and what can be done about its adaptation and mitigation. Several of the historic outcomes of COPs (e.g. Kyoto Protocol, Paris Accords, 4 per 1000, AAA) are important and indicative of the immense progress. The importance of these initiatives can never be over-emphasized.
Similar to the Climate COPs, there are also COPs focused on Land Degradation and Desertification (by UNCCD), and on Biodiversity. These three independent COPs are making commendable progress, however, there is some duplication and redundancies which are not only time consuming but are also expensive. Therefore, there is a strong need to reconsider some basic issues in management of these COPs and the related global events.
Indeed, a critical and an objective approach is needed with regards to the following questions:
- Do we need COP meetings on an annual basis?
- Can some COPs be combined (i.e. Climate Change, Land Degradation, Biodiversity)?
- Can COPs be attended by farmers, ranchers and land managers as the key stakeholders?
- How can we assure that the promises made at COPs by governments are implemented?
We must have a protocol for accountability.
While an estimate of $100 B at the Paris Accord was a good starting point, it is really a drop in the ocean to address the humongous problem. We need $100 B per annum to transform agriculture from being a problem to a part of the solution.
We must take a close look at the agreements signed at COPs and not being implemented.
Sincerely,
Rattan Lal
Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science
Director, CFAES Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration (Lal Carbon Center)
IICA Chair in Soil Science & Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Issues
Adjunct Professor at the University of Iceland and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute