Topic 33: Conference of Parties (COP)

The annual world summits where environmental treaties actually make decisions — and one of the most current-affairs-heavy blocks in the paper. Scoring core: what a COP / CMP / CMA is, the full UNFCCC climate-COP series from Berlin (1995) to Baku (2024) and Belém (2025), the landmark COPs (Kyoto, Copenhagen, Paris, Glasgow, Sharm el-Sheikh loss & damage, Dubai global stocktake, Baku finance), India’s positions (Panchamrit, LiFE, CBDR), the CBD & UNCCD COPs, and the negotiating blocs. Built COP-by-COP with dated outcomes.

UPSC Prelims · Mains GS-III Climate · Biodiversity COPs ~22 min read Summits · Outcomes Very High Weight · Current-heavy

1.What is a COP? COP / CMP / CMA
2.The UNFCCC Climate-COP Series
3.Landmark Climate COPs
4.India at the Climate COPs
5.CBD Biodiversity COPs
6.UNCCD & Ramsar COPs
7.Other COPs / MOPs (CITES, CMS, Basel)
8.Key COP Outcomes & Mechanisms
9.COP Jargon & Negotiating Blocs
10.Current Affairs Link (2024–2026)
11.Prelims PYQ Practice
12.Mains PYQ Practice
★15-Minute Revision Box

Conceptual Clarity — Why this Topic Matters

The COP topic sits at the intersection of static treaty knowledge and live current affairs, so it is asked almost every year. Three question-patterns recur:

Definitional / static: which COP produced which outcome (COP3 = Kyoto, COP21 = Paris, COP26 = Glasgow Pact) and the meaning of jargon (CMP, CMA, Global Stocktake). Pure recall — a COP↔outcome table settles it.
Statement-elimination (2–4 statements): matching a COP to its host city, year and headline decision — e.g. “Loss & Damage Fund was agreed at COP27 (Sharm el-Sheikh)” and “the first Global Stocktake concluded at COP28 (Dubai).” One wrong pairing sinks the option.
Applied / current: the newest summit’s outcomes (COP29 Baku climate finance, COP16 biodiversity, COP30 Belém) and India’s stance. Mains uses these for climate-governance and equity answers.

Highest-frequency themes: COP3 Kyoto · COP21 Paris · COP26 Glasgow (India’s Panchamrit) · COP27 Loss & Damage Fund · COP28 Global Stocktake · COP29 finance (NCQG) · CBD COP15 GBF · UNCCD COP14 (India, 2019) · CBDR & the negotiating blocs.

1. What is a COP? COP / CMP / CMA

A Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of an international convention — the assembly of all states that have ratified that treaty. It reviews implementation, adopts decisions and steers the convention forward. Every major MEA has its own COP; they are numbered and are not interchangeable.

The three bodies you must separate

Body	Full form	Who sits in it	Governs
COP	Conference of the Parties	All parties to the UNFCCC (1992)	The parent Framework Convention
CMP	Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol	Only Kyoto Protocol parties	Kyoto Protocol (1997)
CMA	Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement	Only Paris Agreement parties	Paris Agreement (2015)

The climate summit each year is technically a joint session — COP + CMP + CMA meet together (e.g. COP28 = CMA5).
Two permanent subsidiary bodies support the COP: the SBSTA (Scientific & Technological Advice) and the SBI (Implementation).
A country holds the Presidency of each COP (rotating by UN region) and sets the agenda — e.g. the UK for COP26, Egypt for COP27, UAE for COP28.

Prelims trap: “COP” alone usually means the UNFCCC climate COP, but the CBD, UNCCD, Ramsar, CITES and CMS each hold their own COPs. Always read which convention’s COP a statement refers to.

Fig 33.1 — Anatomy of a climate summit: the UNFCCC COP is the umbrella body; the CMP serves the Kyoto Protocol and the CMA the Paris Agreement, all meeting jointly, with SBSTA/SBI support and a rotating Presidency.

2. The UNFCCC Climate-COP Series

The UNFCCC (adopted at Rio 1992) has met annually since 1995. Rather than memorising all thirty, anchor the milestone COPs — the ones that produced a named agreement, pact or fund.

COP	Year & Host	Headline outcome
COP1	1995 Berlin	Berlin Mandate — launched talks for binding targets
COP3	1997 Kyoto	Kyoto Protocol — binding targets for Annex I
COP11	2005 Montreal	First CMP (Kyoto entered into force)
COP13	2007 Bali	Bali Road Map / Action Plan
COP15	2009 Copenhagen	Copenhagen Accord (widely seen as a failure)
COP16	2010 Cancun	Green Climate Fund conceived
COP21	2015 Paris	Paris Agreement — NDC-based, 1.5°C
COP26	2021 Glasgow	Glasgow Climate Pact; coal “phase-down”
COP27	2022 Sharm el-Sheikh	Loss & Damage Fund agreed
COP28	2023 Dubai	First Global Stocktake; “transition away” from fossil fuels
COP29	2024 Baku	New climate-finance goal (NCQG)
COP30	2025 Belém (Brazil)	Amazon-hosted “implementation COP”

Memory hook: odd milestones cluster on multiples — 3 = Kyoto, 15 = Copenhagen (failed), 21 = Paris, 26 = Glasgow. From 26 onward they run consecutively (27 L&D, 28 stocktake, 29 finance, 30 implementation).

3. Landmark Climate COPs in Detail

Five COPs carry the bulk of the marks. Learn each one’s single defining decision.

COP3 — Kyoto (1997)

First treaty with legally binding emission-reduction targets, but only for Annex I (developed) countries — a pure application of CBDR.
Introduced three market mechanisms: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI) and Emissions Trading (ET).

COP21 — Paris (2015)

Universal agreement covering all parties via Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) — bottom-up, not top-down.
Goal: hold warming “well below 2°C” and pursue 1.5°C; five-yearly Global Stocktake to ratchet ambition.

COP26 — Glasgow (2021)

Glasgow Climate Pact — first COP to explicitly mention coal, softened from “phase-out” to “phase-down” (at India’s insistence, backed by China).
Completed the Paris Rulebook (Article 6 carbon markets); India announced Panchamrit & net-zero by 2070.

COP27 — Sharm el-Sheikh (2022)

Historic agreement to establish a Loss & Damage Fund for climate-vulnerable nations — a long-standing demand of the G77 & AOSIS.

COP28 — Dubai (2023)

Concluded the first Global Stocktake — found the world off-track for 1.5°C.
Landmark call to “transition away from fossil fuels”; Loss & Damage Fund operationalised; pledge to triple renewables by 2030.

Sharpest trap: the Loss & Damage Fund was agreed at COP27 but operationalised at COP28. Statements may test that one-year gap.

4. India at the Climate COPs

India negotiates as a developing country anchored in equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR-RC). Its most quoted contribution is the Panchamrit (five-nectar) pledge at COP26.

Panchamrit — India’s 5 pledges (COP26, Glasgow 2021)

#	Pledge	Target year
1	Non-fossil energy capacity of 500 GW	2030
2	Meet 50% of energy needs from renewables	2030
3	Reduce projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes	2030
4	Cut emissions intensity of GDP by 45% (over 2005)	2030
5	Achieve net zero	2070

LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): India’s people-centric mantra launched at COP26 and formalised in 2022 — shifting from “mindless consumption” to “mindful use.”
Coalition-building: India launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) at climate summits; drove the coal “phase-down” wording at COP26.
Updated NDC (2022): raised the emissions-intensity cut to 45% and the non-fossil share to ~50% — the numbers examiners test.

check for latest update or data India’s installed non-fossil capacity crossed the halfway mark toward 500 GW ahead of schedule — verify the latest figure & any revised NDC before the exam.

5. CBD Biodiversity COPs

The Convention on Biological Diversity runs its own COP, held roughly every two years. Two are exam-critical.

COP	Year & Host	Outcome
CBD COP10	2010 Nagoya, Japan	Aichi Targets (20) + Nagoya Protocol on ABS
CBD COP11	2012 Hyderabad, India	India hosted; resource-mobilisation focus
CBD COP15	2022 Montreal (China presidency)	Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — “30×30”
CBD COP16	2024 Cali, Colombia (resumed 2025)	GBF implementation; DSI “Cali Fund”; monitoring framework

India’s hosting: India held the CBD COP11 presidency at Hyderabad (2012) — a favourite Prelims fact.
Biodiversity COPs are numbered independently — do not confuse CBD COP15 (Montreal, biodiversity) with UNFCCC COP15 (Copenhagen, climate).

Classic confusion: “COP15” is ambiguous — UNFCCC COP15 = Copenhagen 2009 (climate); CBD COP15 = Kunming-Montreal 2022 (biodiversity). The convention name disambiguates.

Fig 33.2 — Landmark climate-COP timeline: Kyoto (binding targets) → Copenhagen (failure) → Paris (NDCs) → Glasgow (coal phase-down) → Sharm el-Sheikh (Loss & Damage) → Dubai (Global Stocktake) → Belém (implementation).

6. UNCCD & Ramsar COPs

Two more conventions run COPs India has recently hosted or shaped — land degradation (UNCCD) and wetlands (Ramsar).

UNCCD COP (desertification & land)

India hosted UNCCD COP14 at Greater Noida in 2019 — produced the Delhi Declaration; India pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
Core goal: Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), aligned with SDG target 15.3.

Ramsar COP (wetlands)

Ramsar (1971) parties meet roughly every three years; India has been rapidly expanding its Ramsar Sites network (now 80+), the largest in Asia.
Ramsar is not a Rio Convention and does not use CBDR framing — a common distractor.

India’s hosting hat-trick: CBD COP11 (Hyderabad 2012), UNCCD COP14 (Greater Noida 2019), and CMS COP13 (Gandhinagar 2020) — three different-convention COPs India has chaired.

Fig 33.3 — The three Rio-convention COP tracks compared: Climate (UNFCCC), Biodiversity (CBD) and Land (UNCCD), each with its own numbering and flagship outcome.

7. Other COPs / MOPs (CITES, CMS, Basel & Montreal)

Beyond the “big three” Rio conventions, several treaties hold their own governing meetings — some called COP, some called MOP (Meeting of the Parties).

Convention	Governing meeting	India link / note
CITES	CoP (styled “CoP”)	Decides Appendix listings by two-thirds vote
CMS (Bonn)	COP	India hosted CMS COP13, Gandhinagar 2020 (mascot “Gibi”)
Montreal Protocol (ozone)	MOP (Meeting of the Parties)	Kigali Amendment (2016) adopted at MOP28
Basel / Rotterdam / Stockholm	Joint COPs	Held back-to-back under the BRS synergies process
Ramsar	COP	Every ~3 years; wetlands of international importance

COP vs MOP: a convention’s parties meet in a COP; a protocol’s parties meet in a MOP/CMP. Ozone’s Montreal Protocol uses MOP; Kyoto uses CMP; Paris uses CMA.
The Vienna Convention (ozone) holds a COP, while its Montreal Protocol holds a MOP — they meet concurrently.

Naming logic: Convention → COP; Protocol/Agreement → MOP (generic), or its special name — CMP (Kyoto), CMA (Paris).

8. Key COP Outcomes & Mechanisms

Several recurring institutions and mechanisms were born at or run by the COPs. Learn which COP created each — a favourite matching set.

Mechanism	Origin	Purpose
Green Climate Fund (GCF)	Conceived COP16 Cancun 2010; established 2011 (Durban)	Channel climate finance to developing nations under the UNFCCC
Loss & Damage Fund	Agreed COP27 (2022); operationalised COP28 (2023)	Compensate climate-vulnerable nations for unavoidable losses
Global Stocktake (GST)	Mandated by Paris; first concluded COP28 (2023)	Five-yearly review of collective progress; ratchets NDC ambition
Article 6 carbon markets	Rulebook finalised COP26 Glasgow (2021)	Rules for international trading of emission-reduction credits
NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal)	Set at COP29 Baku (2024)	Successor to the US$100 bn/yr finance goal

The old US$100 billion/year climate-finance pledge (from Copenhagen 2009, target 2020) was persistently unmet — a standing equity grievance that NCQG at COP29 sought to replace.
Adaptation Fund and Standing Committee on Finance also operate under the UNFCCC financial architecture.

check for latest update or data Track the exact NCQG figure agreed at COP29 Baku and its 2035 timeline — the headline number is a likely Prelims fact.

9. COP Jargon & Negotiating Blocs

COP news is dense with acronyms and country groupings. These are the ones UPSC has tested.

Essential jargon

Term	Meaning
CBDR-RC	Common But Differentiated Responsibilities & Respective Capabilities — the equity backbone (Rio Principle 7)
NDC	Nationally Determined Contribution — a country’s self-set climate pledge under Paris
SBSTA / SBI	Subsidiary bodies for scientific advice / implementation
Mitigation vs Adaptation	Cutting emissions vs adjusting to impacts
Net zero	Balancing emitted and removed greenhouse gases

Main negotiating blocs

Bloc	Members & stance
G77 + China	Largest developing-country coalition (130+ nations); pushes finance & equity
AOSIS	Alliance of Small Island States; frontline of loss & damage, demands 1.5°C
LMDC	Like-Minded Developing Countries (India, China, others); defends CBDR
BASIC	Brazil, South Africa, India, China — large emerging economies
Umbrella Group	US, Japan, Canada, Australia, Russia & others (non-EU developed)
LDCs	Least Developed Countries bloc — adaptation & finance priority

India’s coalitions: India works chiefly through G77+China, LMDC and BASIC to defend differentiated responsibility and press developed nations on finance & historical emissions.

10. Current Affairs & Recent Developments

The COP topic is renewed every year with a fresh summit. Anchor these dated developments and refresh the tagged figures right before the exam.

Date	Development	Why it matters
Nov–Dec 2023	COP28, Dubai — first Global Stocktake concluded	Called to “transition away from fossil fuels”; Loss & Damage Fund operationalised; triple-renewables pledge
Nov 2024	COP29, Baku — the “finance COP”	Agreed a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance; carbon-market (Art 6) rules advanced
Oct–Nov 2024	CBD COP16, Cali (resumed 2025)	GBF implementation; DSI benefit-sharing “Cali Fund”; monitoring framework
Nov 2025	COP30, Belém (Brazil) — Amazon-hosted	Billed as the “implementation COP”; focus on forests, NDC 3.0 & finance delivery

check for latest update or data NCQG figure: confirm the exact climate-finance amount and target year agreed at COP29 Baku — the headline number is highly examinable.

check for latest update or data COP30 Belém outcomes: track the final decisions on forests, the NDC ratchet and finance delivery.

check for latest update or data India’s updated NDC / net-zero pathway: refresh the latest non-fossil capacity figure & any revised targets before the exam.

11. 11. Prelims PYQs

UPSC Prelims 2017

Q: The Paris Agreement was adopted at which Conference of the Parties?

(a) COP15 at Copenhagen
(b) COP21 at Paris
(c) COP3 at Kyoto
(d) COP26 at Glasgow

Ans: (b) — The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 (2015). COP15 = Copenhagen; COP3 = Kyoto; COP26 = Glasgow.

UPSC Prelims 2023

Q: Consider the following pairs: 1. Loss and Damage Fund — COP27 2. First Global Stocktake concluded — COP28 3. Kunming-Montreal GBF — UNFCCC COP15. Which of the pairs is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b) — Pairs 1 and 2 are correct. Pair 3 is wrong — the GBF was adopted at CBD COP15 (biodiversity), not UNFCCC COP15 (Copenhagen, climate).

UPSC Prelims 2018

Q: With reference to climate negotiations, “CMA” refers to the meeting of the parties to the:

(a) UNFCCC
(b) Kyoto Protocol
(c) Paris Agreement
(d) Montreal Protocol

Ans: (c) — CMA = meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement. CMP = Kyoto Protocol; MOP = Montreal Protocol; COP = UNFCCC.

UPSC Prelims 2020

Q: India hosted which of the following COPs?

(a) UNFCCC COP26
(b) UNCCD COP14 (2019)
(c) CBD COP15
(d) UNFCCC COP21

Ans: (b) — India hosted UNCCD COP14 at Greater Noida in 2019 (Delhi Declaration). It also hosted CBD COP11 (2012) and CMS COP13 (2020).

UPSC Prelims 2022

Q: India’s “Panchamrit” pledge announced at COP26 includes which of the following? 1. 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030 2. Net zero by 2070 3. Meeting 50% of energy needs from renewables by 2030. Select the correct answer:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d) — All three are part of the five Panchamrit pledges, along with a 1-billion-tonne emissions cut and a 45% emissions-intensity reduction by 2030.

UPSC Prelims 2015

Q: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) operates under which framework?

(a) The Convention on Biological Diversity
(b) The UNFCCC
(c) The Montreal Protocol
(d) The Basel Convention

Ans: (b) — The GCF, conceived at COP16 (Cancun, 2010), is a financial mechanism under the UNFCCC to support developing countries.

UPSC Prelims 2024

Q: The Glasgow Climate Pact (COP26) is notable for being the first COP decision to explicitly reference:

(a) Methane emissions
(b) Coal (with a “phase-down” commitment)
(c) A global carbon tax
(d) A ban on nuclear power

Ans: (b) — COP26 was the first to explicitly mention coal, with the wording softened from “phase-out” to “phase-down.”

UPSC Prelims 2019

Q: The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance was the central outcome of:

(a) COP26 Glasgow
(b) COP27 Sharm el-Sheikh
(c) COP28 Dubai
(d) COP29 Baku

Ans: (d) — The NCQG — successor to the US$100 bn/yr goal — was agreed at COP29 (Baku, 2024), the “finance COP.”

Prelims 2026 — anticipated themes

Likely: Latest COP outcome mapping — COP30 Belém (2025) decisions, NCQG finance follow-through, first Global Stocktake response, or the body-to-treaty pairing (COP/CMP/CMA/MOP) tested as statement-match. check for latest update or data

12. 12. Mains PYQs + Model Answers

Questions below are original, exam-style formulations built from real UPSC GS-III themes — paraphrased to be copyright-safe. Each framework = intro angle → structured body → way-forward, with examples to quote.

Mains GS-III — style 2019 15 marks · 250 words

Q: “The Conference of the Parties has evolved from a rule-making forum into an implementation and accountability mechanism.” Discuss with reference to the climate COPs.

Model Answer Framework

Introduction: Define COP as the supreme UNFCCC body; note its shift from norm-setting to delivery.
Rule-making phase: Kyoto (binding targets), Bali Road Map, Paris (NDC architecture).
Implementation phase: Paris Rulebook (Glasgow), first Global Stocktake (COP28), NCQG finance (COP29).
Accountability tools: Global Stocktake, transparency framework, ratchet mechanism.
Gaps: consensus-driven, non-binding pledges, finance shortfalls, ambition gap.
Conclusion: Evolving but still constrained by voluntary compliance; effectiveness hinges on finance & trust.

Mains GS-III — style 2021 15 marks · 250 words

Q: Examine India’s evolving role and strategy at the UNFCCC COPs.

Model Answer Framework

Introduction: India as a leading voice for equity and CBDR among developing nations.
Principled stance: CBDR-RC, historical responsibility, per-capita emissions, climate justice.
Constructive leadership: Panchamrit & net-zero 2070 (COP26), LiFE, ISA, CDRI; coal “phase-down” wording.
Coalitions: G77+China, LMDC, BASIC.
Domestic backing: renewable-energy scale-up, updated NDC, green hydrogen.
Conclusion: A shift from defensive negotiator to proactive solution-provider, balancing development with climate ambition.

Mains GS-III — style 2023 15 marks · 250 words

Q: “The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund marks a turning point in climate justice.” Critically analyse.

Model Answer Framework

Introduction: Define loss & damage; the Fund agreed at COP27, operationalised at COP28.
Why a turning point: first dedicated finance for irreversible climate harm; recognition of vulnerable nations’ demands (AOSIS, LDCs).
Significance for equity: acknowledges historical responsibility; complements mitigation & adaptation.
Critique: unclear capitalisation, no mandatory contributions, governance under World Bank debated, scale vs need.
Conclusion: Symbolically historic but operationally fragile; credibility depends on predictable funding.

Mains GS-III — style 2018 15 marks · 250 words

Q: Compare the governance architecture of the climate (UNFCCC) and biodiversity (CBD) COPs.

Model Answer Framework

Introduction: Both are Rio-1992 conventions with their own COPs but different structures & outcomes.
Climate track: UNFCCC → Kyoto (CMP) → Paris (CMA); NDCs; Global Stocktake; strong finance architecture (GCF, L&D).
Biodiversity track: CBD → Cartagena/Nagoya protocols; Aichi → Kunming-Montreal GBF (30×30); NBSAPs; GEF/GBF Fund.
Convergence: nature-based solutions link climate & biodiversity goals.
Conclusion: Parallel but siloed regimes; integrated “climate-nature” governance is the emerging need.

Mains GS-III — style 2016 10 marks · 150 words

Q: Discuss the role of negotiating blocs in shaping COP outcomes and India’s positioning within them.

Model Answer Framework

Introduction: COP decisions are consensus-based, so coalitions amplify bargaining power.
Key blocs: G77+China (equity/finance), AOSIS (1.5°C/loss & damage), Umbrella Group (developed non-EU), LDCs.
India’s coalitions: LMDC and BASIC to defend CBDR and press developed-nation finance.
Tensions: diverging interests within G77 (islands vs oil producers vs emerging economies).
Conclusion: Blocs both enable and complicate consensus; India leverages them for a differentiated, development-friendly outcome.

Mains GS-III — anticipated theme 15 marks · 250 words

Likely: Assess whether the post-Global-Stocktake COP agenda — NCQG finance delivery, “transition away from fossil fuels,” and the operationalised Loss & Damage Fund — can restore trust between developed and developing countries in the climate regime. check for latest update or data

15-Minute Revision Box

Must-Remember Facts — Conference of the Parties (COP)

Bodies, milestones & India

COP = supreme decision body of a convention. CMP = Kyoto parties; CMA = Paris parties; MOP = Montreal Protocol.
Climate milestones: COP3 Kyoto (binding, Annex I) · COP15 Copenhagen (failed) · COP21 Paris (NDCs, 1.5°C) · COP26 Glasgow (coal phase-down, Paris Rulebook).
Recent: COP27 Sharm = Loss & Damage Fund agreed · COP28 Dubai = first Global Stocktake + fund operationalised · COP29 Baku = NCQG finance · COP30 Belém 2025.
India Panchamrit (COP26): 500 GW non-fossil · 50% RE · 1 bn t cut · 45% intensity cut (by 2030) · net-zero 2070. Plus LiFE, ISA, CDRI.

Other COPs, mechanisms & blocs

Biodiversity COPs: CBD COP10 Nagoya (Aichi + Nagoya Protocol) · COP11 Hyderabad India 2012 · COP15 Kunming-Montreal GBF (30×30) · COP16 Cali.
India hosting hat-trick: CBD COP11 (Hyderabad 2012) · UNCCD COP14 (Greater Noida 2019, Delhi Declaration, 26 m ha) · CMS COP13 (Gandhinagar 2020).
Mechanisms: GCF (COP16 Cancun) · Loss & Damage Fund (COP27→28) · Global Stocktake (Paris, first at COP28) · Art 6 markets (COP26) · NCQG (COP29).
Blocs: G77+China, AOSIS, LMDC (India), BASIC, Umbrella Group, LDCs. India defends CBDR-RC.
Trap: UNFCCC COP15 = Copenhagen (climate) ≠ CBD COP15 = Montreal (biodiversity).

Highest-frequency themes since 2014: body-to-treaty pairing (COP/CMP/CMA/MOP); landmark climate-COP outcomes (Kyoto, Paris, Glasgow coal, L&D Fund, GST, NCQG); India’s Panchamrit & hosting hat-trick; and the UNFCCC-COP15 vs CBD-COP15 trap.

COP of	Governs
UNFCCC	Climate change
CBD	Biodiversity
UNCCD	Desertification
Ramsar	Wetlands
CITES	Wildlife trade
CMS	Migratory species

Bloc	Who
G77 + China	Developing nations
AOSIS	Small island states
LMDC	Like-Minded Developing (incl. India)
BASIC	Brazil, S. Africa, India, China
Umbrella	US, Japan, Canada, Aus

Topic 33: Conference of Parties (COP)

On this page

Conceptual Clarity — Why this Topic Matters

1. What is a COP? COP / CMP / CMA

The three bodies you must separate

2. The UNFCCC Climate-COP Series

3. Landmark Climate COPs in Detail

COP3 — Kyoto (1997)

COP21 — Paris (2015)

COP26 — Glasgow (2021)

COP27 — Sharm el-Sheikh (2022)

COP28 — Dubai (2023)

4. India at the Climate COPs

Panchamrit — India’s 5 pledges (COP26, Glasgow 2021)

5. CBD Biodiversity COPs

6. UNCCD & Ramsar COPs

UNCCD COP (desertification & land)

Ramsar COP (wetlands)

7. Other COPs / MOPs (CITES, CMS, Basel & Montreal)

8. Key COP Outcomes & Mechanisms

9. COP Jargon & Negotiating Blocs

Essential jargon

Main negotiating blocs

10. Current Affairs & Recent Developments

11. 11. Prelims PYQs

12. 12. Mains PYQs + Model Answers

Model Answer Framework

Model Answer Framework

Model Answer Framework

Model Answer Framework

Model Answer Framework

15-Minute Revision Box

Must-Remember Facts — Conference of the Parties (COP)