urbanbuzz/Shutterstock Save for later Print Download Share The UN鈥檚 big annual climate change summit, or conference of the parties (COP), is often viewed as a singular event, with each host nation wanting to make its mark, but in reality, this has always been a multiyear process. This is perhaps more explicit now, with the "global stocktake" completed at COP28 in Dubai last year setting out a path to COP30 in Brazil next year, when countries are due to submit new emissions cut pledges, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). COP29 in Azerbaijan forms a critical link in that three-year horizon, with the difficult task of delivering a step-change in climate finance to give developing countries the means and confidence to reach for ambitious new emissions goals.
