Does COP still do the job?

In recent years, the United Nations Climate Conference has come under scrutiny for a number of reasons. Some say that there could be greater continuity between COP summits while others have criticised it for being too corporate-friendly and close to the fossil fuels industry.

Last year in particular, there was a shared sentiment that the final agreement at COP28 did not go far enough in transitioning away from fossil fuels. But this year, it seems that even world leaders are avoiding the conference, which is counterintuitive to say the least.

It has been reported that the leaders of the 13 biggest emitters of carbon — countries responsible for more than 70% of 2023’s heat-trapping gases — did not appear at this year’s gathering. So what doe this mean for the future of COP and, ultimately, the future of our planet? We asked and the industry answered…

Roland Harwood, Co-founder of Climate Tech Supercluster and Community of Practice Convener of Net Zero Living

“COP’s effectiveness is increasingly questionable – its too large, talk-heavy, and dominated by fossil fuel interests. Its expansive scale can dilute focus, while the voices of those most impacted by climate change often go unheard. The disconnect between high-level negotiations and the everyday lives of people grappling with climate impacts only widens as COP fails to translate lofty pledges into immediate, actionable outcomes. Yet, with climate change presenting the greatest challenge—and the greatest innovation and investment opportunity—on the planet, COP’s purpose remains essential. To become a true catalyst for action, COP must evolve to amplify urgency and deliver impact at scale.

One way forward is for COP to prioritize and showcase impactful, on-the-ground initiatives that drive real change. Programs like the Climate Tech Supercluster and Net Zero Living exemplify the type of projects COP should support and showcase. The Climate Tech Supercluster brings together a range of climate tech innovators to accelerate sustainable solutions, emphasizing collaboration across sectors to fast-track scalable technologies for a net-zero future. Similarly, Net Zero Living enables UK towns and cities to adopt innovative, sustainable solutions tailored to local needs, proving that climate action can be accessible and relevant to people and places everywhere.

By spotlighting these models, COP could shift from abstract policy discussions to practical, replicable examples that highlight the economic and social opportunities of climate action. Scaling up support for such initiatives would position COP as a springboard for global action that connects climate targets directly to community-level benefits—creating jobs, fostering innovation, and making the climate mission tangible for all. In doing so, COP can transform into a driving force for climate solutions that resonate locally while advancing the urgent global mission for a sustainable future.”

Abb-d Taiyo, Co-founder and CCO of Driftime® – A Design & Impact Agency

“There’s always room for improvement in global conversations about the planet, and this year’s COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, is no exception. While events like COP are a way of keeping the conversation alive, their credibility is increasingly undermined by corporate influence, greed, and a sincere lack of progress on a global transition away from fossil fuels.

Last year’s COP28 faced widespread criticism for failing to deliver an agreement that adequately curtailed fossil fuel use, despite the clear urgency to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The inclusion of representatives from the fossil fuel industry in the negotiation process further fuelled concerns about conflicts of interest and diluted ambition. There’s an opportunity for COP29 to address these issues by placing transparency at the forefront, and distancing itself from industry lobbying to restore trust.

One of Driftime®’s partners, the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), will be speaking at the Global Climate Finance Framework (GCFF) at COP29 this year, sharing insights on the Climate Finance Reform Compass, a platform designed and built by Driftime® to help accelerate impact in the field. The framework tracking tool works to build consensus, and coordinate actions across governments, civil society, and the private sector for meaningful financial reform to meet our climate goals.

Events like COP29 provide a designated space for people, organisations, and institutions to hold actionable conversations about the climate crisis, and whilst the processes and outcomes aren’t always aligned, there’s a clear need for transparent, future-focused dialogue that can influence real change.”

Dr. Melissa Sterry, Scientist and Founder of futures and innovation consultancy Bioratorium

“To cite James Hansen, ‘a miracle will occur’ is not a sensible climate policy. Hansen’s 2023 paper is just one of several published this past dozen plus years that make evident that it would be wishful thinking to imagine that humanity can contain the climate system within the limits of COP29, and before it COP28. Given not merely the matter that anthropogenic emissions continue to rise far and above the levels required to hit the target in the 2015 Paris Agreement, but now multiple Earth systems indicate they have or are in the process of tipping from the regime associated with the Holocene and into a new geological era of which the name is still to be settled.

As to why COP28 and now 29 are working to targets considered to be unrealistic by Hansen, among other foremost authorities on climate science, Bill McGuire nailed it in his piece for the Guardian in January 2023. He discussed how it ‘beggars belief that the UN thought it a good idea to allow an authoritarian petro-state to host an already compromised COP28’ [2]. I stand with Hansen, with McGuire, and with the 180 climate advocates that chose to boycott COP28 on the grounds that the gathering is now so highjacked by vested interests as to lack any significant agency to inspire wide-spread action, let alone shift the policy needle in the right direction. 

Much as I recognise the good intentions of some, if not many of those that attended COP28 and now COP29, putting it frankly, it’s clear that the event now amounts to little more than a glorified trade show. It is a place in which umpteen parties are seemingly more concerned with flogging their various wares and services, and with taking selfies with high profile climate advocates, than they are with the details of the science of climate, and with the consensus among those that pioneered the field and their advisories in light of the latest data on Earth’s climate and related systems. Many of those now attending boast not so much as an A level in science, let alone have the expertise to play any meaningful role in shaping climate policy such that humanity mitigates against worst-case outcomes for our current civilisation. 

Worse still is the hypocrisy of many attending the event – those that talk the reduce carbon emissions talk, yet not only show little if any inability to walk it, but expect others to give up the things that they clearly haven’t. Any that imagine that comment to be harsh ought to invest some time in speaking with wide-ranging members of the public and reflect on their commentaries, and in the process consider how voting patterns suggest that trust in policymakers and in leadership more generally is now so low that the majority American voting public just voted in a president whose primary intent is to rip up the policy rule book and the institutions that author it.”

Samer Bagaeen, Technical Director in Town Planning & Stakeholder Capability at Arcadis

“What COP29 has reinforced (again) is the need for urgent action (again!) but this needs to be enabled by a consistent and implementable action plan through all intervention points and beyond and across countries and the agendas of all of the multilateral agencies and the International Finance Institutions.

Standardised terminology and understanding, consistency in regulation, absolute transparency about social outcomes, social equity, cooperation, new technologies and most importantly, visibility and commitment to how the green transition is going to be financed are the essential building blocks. COPs must be open to the citizens of the host cities/countries to access. Delegates should not hide in blue or green zones!”

Myles Igwebuike, Strategic Culture Designer

“COP29 might be reconfigured to be a more dynamic forum to assist limit the potential for the reduction of fossil fuels to cause climate change, resulting in the development of quantified, enforceable agreements that ensure international collaboration notwithstanding national economic interests.

COP29 must be more disruptive in order to allow an agreement to compel the global north nations – as well as others such as the United States, China, India, and the Eurozone – to pay more for the causes of ozone depletion caused by global atmospheric warming. Regardless of national interests, the global north must reinvent the summit by reframing it to include immediate necessary reductions in fossil fuel sources of energy, rather than the gamesmanship we are seeing.

Since the global south did not contribute as much to the ongoing causes of global warming as the global north did, they should have a greater say in the matrix of decisions forming sustainable global climate control mechanisms that support technological fairness and economic developments. In order to prevent climate resolutions from perpetuating historical inequities, these COP decisions are essential.

In summary, the global north needs to ensure that the global south is present at the table during discussions about how to reorganise the framework and regulations that supplement the Paris Agreements, to spread the ideas that guide climate action.

These visions will guarantee that nations adhere to legally binding agreements on precise emissions reduction targets and timelines; reporting systems that track compliance with emission reductions; explicit penalties for non-compliance; and the establishment of carbon markets that provide financial incentives for compliance monitoring by nations and civil society.”

Jude Pullen, Creative Technologist & Physical Prototyping Expert

“The Design Council is in a unique position, because of its apparent impartiality, to challenge the status quo, and also lead – not just in thought, but in action also. Making full use of its extensive network of experts, it should be able to curate bold new initiatives, which hold various sectors to a higher standard. This is not just aspirational, but evidently essential to do more than we are at present.

COP is an opportunity for the Design Council to not just ‘be present’ – but to ‘be provocative’ – I hope that its members can do more to ’cause the right kind of trouble’ and fund/support work which is not always comfortable, but is unquestionably necessary.

The UK remains an influential voice in the global stage, and the British Design Council can be a voice which understands the deeper ramifications of technology, economics, politics and more – and uses design methodologies to help make a serious impact in many of the world’s intractable problems. If a design discussion is not ‘dividing the room’ to a useful degree, it is arguably not fostering the depth or debate and decision making that is necessary for Design Council’s Design for Planet manifesto.”

Jane Aslandis, Design Council Expert and Australian Design Council Program Director Jane Aslanidis

“Every year, COP promises the same: an unprecedented opportunity to forge solutions for the climate crisis. I remember my first COP experience in 2009 – my first insight into a gathering of heads of state, business leaders, and activists under the banner of climate action. Yet, 15 years on in 2024, global emissions are still rising, and promises made in negotiation halls often fail to materialise. Does COP still do the job, or has it become a stage for declarations rather than a driver of real change?

The problem is not just political will; it is also a design challenge. Effective climate solutions require intentional design of systems that align policy, commerce, technology, and human behaviour. COP’s power lies in its ability to convene – a critical design element for any global response. Without these shared spaces, we lose the opportunity to align diverse stakeholders in a common language. But convening alone is not enough. History provides a perspective on design turning ambition into action, enabling practical pathways for implementation, from climate finance to renewable energy transitions.

We’ve seen how well-designed initiatives, like regenerative urban systems or scalable restoration projects, can deliver measurable impact. If COP adopted a design mindset – focused on systemic problem-solving, iterative adaptation, and measurable outcomes – it might recapture its relevance. I remain an optimist with a pragmatic understanding of the human experience, that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

There is a chance for COP to redesign its own role: from setting soft ambitions to enforcing hard commitments with real-world accountability.

The question isn’t whether COP can convene, but whether it can be reimagined as the platform where conversation becomes action, and systems are designed to deliver the climate outcomes we desperately need.”

Valerie Owen, Chartered Architect, Town Planner, Development Surveyor & Environmentalist

“Conference of the Parties (COPs) are the main decision-making body for the 198 parties (197 states and the EU,) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC.) They can deliver good outcomes, for example in 2015, the Paris Agreement determined a legally binding global treaty on climate change. Commitments, in the form of nationally determined contributions, are revised regularly, with the aim of increasing ambition/targets on a five-yearly basis.

Does COP still do the job?

• COPs take place annually and effectiveness seems to vary depending on wider, competing claims for leaders’ attention such as political instability and global tensions. For example, Ursula Von der Leyden and the Presidents of France, USA and Brazil did not attend COP 2024.
• COP is too large, meaning it is unwieldy. It would be more environmentally friendly, and more time efficient if COP events were managed online – this might also improve attendance! 
• There is little desire from leaders to agree significant financial contributions for climate reparations – ironically this might well be linked to the significant and growing cost of climate adaptation and mitigation programmes required to tackle climate change within each COP state.
• COP commitments do not always have legal backing, for example the pledge to mobilize $100 billion pa by 2020 to help developing countries that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, has not been met.
• There have been 29 COP conferences since the first one in 1995, and since that time CO2 emissions have increased by 60%. Yet some representatives that have economic dependence on oil and gas, still place economic needs over and above environmental needs, possibly shying away from the phase-out of fossil fuel, agreed last year at COP 28?  

Despite these issues, there is a compelling and urgent need to tackle climate change, and the annual COP provides an opportunity for the international global community to demonstrate climate leadership on how to limit damaging economic activity, with the scale and speed required to deliver the Paris Agreement’s central aim of keeping global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-Industrial levels.

How can Design help tackle climate change?

• Design can help with case studies, showing how environmental improvements can deliver economic returns in cost in use and wider efficiency eg. via retrofitting, recycling, and net-zero construction, etc. 
• Design can help demonstrate how innovation in new materials and construction techniques can help reduce environmental impacts – this is an imperative, given the building and construction sector contributes 37% of global emissions! – as well as help tackle climate adaptation challenges.
• Design can also show how great solutions can deliver ‘beauty’ as well as environmental benefits, without undermining project viability and investment returns.”

Nicola Peel, Solutionist, Environmentalist and Inspirational Speaker 

“For many years we have lived in hope that our leaders will come together and make the right choices and understand the sense of urgency and put our planets stability over that of growth. I really dont think they seem able . We are stuck in a cycle which means everyone is waiting for everyone else and very few countries want to spend money when others are not.

When we have more representatives of the fossil fuel companies present than most small nations put together we have to really question its validity.

Sadly the small nations do not have the money to send many delegates so do not have much of a voice so it becomes the same larger ‘developed’ countries who speak the loudest.

We have been going around in circles now for too long. It is not working. We need a whole new governance. What would happen if the people of the world all got a vote. Most people now have a mobile phone. What would that look like?”

Alexie Sommer, C-founder of URGE Collective

“COP29 is being hijacked by the fossil fuel industry. The news of Trump’s election triumph is still sinking in. His latest appointment of oil and gas CEO and staunch climate denier, to lead the US department of energy is a shocker.

So in light of this – you wonder what hope there is for any global agreement to hold?

Having not attended a COP it’s hard to understand how the meetings function. I’ve not heard a colleague who has attended rave about the experience and, with the urgency of the climate crisis, is the best way of doing business annually?

Surely COP meetings could be monthly and online not every year at great carbon expense? Saying that there are incredibly intelligent, talented and dedicated scientists, politicians and stakeholders doing their best to better the future, and we need to trust the process.

So what does this mean to designers? It means we need to work harder; to envision a more inspiring future; to bring people on that journey through innovative design interventions; to support politicians, regulators and scientists with our powerful design skills; and in light of all the eco-anxiety – have fun along the way.”

James Vaccaro, CEO of RePattern

“I’d had a few comments on my Linkedin post suggesting that the COP process might need to be structured more like a hackathon… but in essence it needs to be dramatically redesigned to avoid the parts it has missed so far.

A few additional thoughts:

• The First COP had <200 delegates, 15 years later it was around 10,000, last year there were about 100,000 in UAE. Not only has it grown massively, but it has been a bit of a ‘barnacle’ development – lots of me-too events all clamouring for oxygen, with insufficient signposting, too much grandstanding and duplication, not enough exploration or innovation processes.
• Consensus is important – indeed it is necessary to ensure that everyone is on board. BUT that doesn’t mean that having an all-parties conversation is the best way of getting to the most ambitious consensus. Having coalitions of the willing acting untethered to those wanting to move slower can help demonstrate and ‘prove the case’ to the sceptics through their actions, rather than needing to win the argument first.
• …Building on the last point, a consensus where everyone has to be pulled towards a minimum level of agreement ends up with the lowest possible bar… and necessarily all the attention is on the minimum, rather than a race to the top where the focus is on the maximum possible. I experienced this directly in coalitions connected to the UN. (UN PRB and Net Zero Banking Alliance). Once there was a common bar to get across, the debate was all about how low the bar could be. Spotlighting the progress of the frontrunners is a far more effective strategy (this was practiced by some coalitions like We Mean Business)
• There’s a huge amount of protocol and security to ‘get into’ COP yet despite that we find fossil fuel lobbyists abound. If there were fewer security and more people who enjoy network and facilitation ‘holding’ the process then there would be more chance of being engaged effectively in the debate.
• Finally, the number of people involved makes it difficult for genuine surprise or breakthroughs.. There is a natural gravitation towards technocratic issues (take the UK decision to launch a consultation on whether or not to have its own green taxonomy, a year after the UK Green Taxonomy Advisory Group had advised what the taxonomy should be..!?! Opening debates to a broader range of entrepreneurial thinking by having challenge-holders (countries/companies etc) host ideas/challenge sessions could enable freer thinking. This often happens ‘in the cracks’ right now, but could be more planned for.
• There are comments (including the recent letter by Figueres et al) about COP being distributed through the year. This could happen in other climate weeks (New York, Abu Dhabi, London, Bonn, Davos? etc).”

Camilla Ween, Director at Goldstein Ween Architects

“With Regard to this current round of COP discussions, which have gone on for far too long, with little real impact – something must change quickly. We are now plunged into a scenario of potential extinctions.

Since the BIG IDEAS seem to fail to move people and politicians we could think small and do-able. It is about thinking differently and stopping reliance on old carbon-intensive designs; designing better for the planet can deliver change – the Design World has already many answers to how to deliver practices that are low carbon.

We must make sure that all can access information about low carbon design. Share widely and demonstrate with examples how this does not have to cost more or be difficult.  Experiment and advertise the benefits -demonstrate and announce the difference (carbon savings) between new and old. – DON’T BE SHY and KEEP IT SIMPLE.”