The first COP (conference of parties, the annual international jamboree for climate action) was held in 1995. The 28th COP will be held later this year.
The key goal behind all these COPs is to bring down CO2 (& other GHG) emissions and stabilize CO2 present in the atmosphere.
𝐈𝐧 1995 (𝐂𝐎𝐏 1), CO2 emissions globally were about 22 billion tons and CO2 levels in atmosphere about 360 PPM
𝐈𝐧 2022 (𝐂𝐎𝐏 27), CO2 emissions globally were about 36 billion tons and CO2 levels in the atmosphere about 420 PPM
So, after 27 annual editions, COP was able to INCREASE global CO2 emissions by 14 billion tons (about 65%) and CO2 levels by 60 PPM (about 17%).
While there have been some positives (both US and EU GHG emissions went down during this period, for instance), what matters is the total emissions and the total amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
27 years (& editions) is a long time!
Surely, this COP business needs a rethink. And in this rethink process, two countries – China and India – should play a far more proactive & enabling role. Especially the former, whose gigantic jump in CO2 emissions from 1990 to 2020 has been to a large extent responsible for the sorry picture we cut today on total global emissions…
Else, the COPs will just be a feel-good attempt for global stakeholders to say, “Look, we did our best but…”
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ZEV India Partnership – Driving Truck Electrification through Collaboration
