In 1992, countries came together to establish the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international treaty aimed at fostering global cooperation to combat climate change by limiting average global temperature increases. 

Since entering into force, the UNFCC has led to key international climate negotiations, including the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015. Bellona has maintained a long-standing presence at the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) under the UNFCCC, beginning with the inaugural Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In fact, Bellona had its international breakthrough at the world’s first environmental conference in Rio, where we presented a report exposing the immense nuclear waste at the Majak nuclear plant in Siberia. The first Conference of the Parties (COP 1) took place in Berlin in 1995, where Bellona also participated. 

Since 2007, Bellona has significantly increased its involvement in COP, often bringing a large delegation and hosting its own pavilion in the blue zone. We actively participate in thematic meetings relevant to our work, promoting our priorities. Our 30 years of on-the-ground experience have been marked by collaborations with civil society, academia, governments, institutions, and industries to drive forward credible climate solutions. 

Highlights from Bellona’s presence and engagement at COP over the years:

COP28 – Dubai, UAE

In 2023, Bellona collaborated with BAFTA, Futerra, Think Film, and the Albert Sustainable Production Certification to host the joint Pavilion “Storytelling for Action.” Discover our various engagements here, including podcast episodes on Climate Bonds Initiatives co-led by Bellona.  
 
COP28 marked the first adoption of an overdue commitment to reducing fossil fuels. Read our insights in the article: “COP 28: The beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era, with many caveats.”

COP27 – Sharm El Sheik, Egypt

In 2022, countries came together in Sharm el-Sheikh for the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27).

COP27: a historic win for vulnerable nations, a lost opportunity for the planet – Bellona EU 

COP27: Cooperation Launched – Bellona.org 

COP26 – Glasgow, Scotland

In 2021, after two weeks of negotiations, the Glasgow Climate Pact was agreed on in Glasgow, at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Bellona supported the outcome as an important step in committing governments to carry out the Paris Agreement. 

Bellona readies its ‘blue zone’ presence at Glasgow’s COP26 – Bellona.org 

COP25 – Madrid, Spain

The climate summit in Madrid failed to achieve the necessary progress in international cooperation. Critical issues – such as Article 6 dealing with carbon markets – were already postponed from COP24 and were not resolved this time either. 

Bellona at COP25 – Bellona.org 

COP25 outcome disappointing – EU must deliver in 2020 – Bellona.org 

COP24 – Katowice, Poland

Bellona once again participated in COP in 2018, this time collaborating with CCSA, IEAGHG, the International CCS Knowledge Centre, and the University of Texas to host an official side event focused on how CCS can assist Poland and similar countries in decarbonising their industries. A large panel of experts from industry, civil society, and academia discussed varying motivations, approaches and experiences surrounding the CCS technology.  

Bellona at COP24 – Bellona.org 

COP24 Official Side Event: CCS as an Enabler for effective Climate Action Globally – Bellona.org 

 

COP23 – Bonn, Germany

In 2017, the UN Climate Summit was held in Bonn, Germany under the Presidency of Fiji, determined to maintain the momentum of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The climate summit in Bonn was largely about maintaining momentum for the Paris Agreement. Bellona was present and arranged events on, among other things, Carbon Capture and Storage and electrification of the transport sector. 

The Bellona Foundation at UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) – Bellona.org 

COP22 – Marrakech, Morrocco

In 2016, the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change took place, right after the US presidential elections. Despite the shocking result of the US presidential elections, the COP22 climate summit in Marrakech went better than originally feared. 

The goal of COP22 was for it to be action-oriented, so that it would contribute to fulfilling the Paris Agreement through the implementation of effective national policies, mobilisation of funds, strengthening of adaptation measures, and technological development. More than ever, climate challenges needed closer cooperation, increased emphasis on knowledge sharing, and faster implementation and industrialisation of innovative and sustainable climate solutions.

“The planet does not have time for four years of a climate denier as president of the United States,” said Frederic Hauge. He feared large coal subsidies and the reversal of important climate laws and believed that it would be crucial for the world that China and the EU now took the lead. 

Marrakech overcomes the Trump effect to offer hope – Bellona EU 

COP21 – Paris, France

By securing the agreement of nearly 200 countries to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the two-week climate conference in Paris, COP 21, set a historic milestone in the UN climate process.  

In 2015, Bellona and CICERO, with the help of Yara and the Norwegian government, established Connection Point – a pavilion and delegation room inside the blue zone of Le Bourget conference site at COP21. 

UPDATED SCHEDULE: Bellona at COP 21 in Paris: What will be on? – Bellona.org 

COP 21: Without twists or reservations, Bellona tells the truth behind CCS’s suboptimal pace of deployment – Bellona.org 

COP20 – Lima, Peru

In 2014, United Nations members reached an agreement on how countries should address climate change at the summit in Lima, Peru. At this summit, 194 nations approved a framework for establishing national pledges to be submitted at the anticipated Paris summit the following year. 

Bellona President Frederic Hauge noted that this agreement sets the world on a path toward exceeding the 2-degree Celsius rise threshold established by the UN’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as the point of no return. However, Hauge emphasised the positive aspect of countries finally agreeing to make progress by endorsing Lima’s final text, which could prevent the Paris summit from becoming a complete farce. 

Climate Summit Blog: The $100 billion circus is back, with distrust, definitions, dinosaurs and – dare we say – a new dynamism – Bellona.org 

Bellona President Hauge sums up Lima as steering the world toward hotter water – Bellona.org 

COP19 – Warsaw, Poland

Ahead of COP19, MEPs and environmental groups across Europe urged the European Commission to take action against the planned construction of two new extension units at a Polish coal-fired power plant. At COP19 in Warsaw, Bellona actively engaged in discussions among 192 countries, emphasising the host country’s climate responsibilities.  

International Coal and Climate (skeptics’) Summit – Bellona.org

Illegal coal plants set sour tone for UN climate negotiations in Warsaw – Bellona.org

COP18 – Doha, Qatar

Bellona was represented in Qatar by seven of its experts at this year’s UN climate summit. Approximately 7,000 government representatives from 192 countries reached a significant agreement: the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, which was set to expire on January 1, 2013, will be extended for a new phase from 2013 to 2020, referred to as Kyoto 2.

Read Bellona’s takeaways from COP18: What you need to know about the Doha UN climate summit – Bellona.org

COP17 – Durban, South Africa

In 2011, “The Bellona Room” at COP17 was strategically positioned between the meeting rooms of the EU and the United States.

In collaboration with the Global CCS Institute and other partners, Bellona hosted workshops on various topics, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon-negative energy, and financing for the Green Climate Fund, which was established during the climate negotiations in Cancun the previous year.

Among the participants in the events held in the Bellona Room were former US Vice President and climate activist Al Gore (joining via live video link) and then-Norwegian Minister of the Environment and Development Erik Solheim.

Read Bellona’s involvement and takeaways from COP17:

Bellona in Durban, South Africa for COP17 UN climate negotiations – Bellona.org

Cop17_Durban – Bellona.org

COP16 – Cancun, Mexico

In collaboration with the Global CCS Institute and other partners, Bellona organised workshops focusing on CO2 management, carbon-negative energy, and the Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico. Notable participants in the events held in the Bellona Room included Lord Nicholas Stern, the author of the Stern Report, Japan’s chief negotiator Kunihiko Shimada, and Adrian Fernandez, the director of Mexico’s Department of the Environment.

Read more below:

Positive development for CO2 capture and storage in Cancun – Bellona.org

COP15 – Copenhagen, Denmark

The climate negotiations in 2009 were met with high expectations. “I’m optimistic,” stated Environment Minister Erik Solheim during the opening of the Bellona pavilion, 101 Solutions to Climate Change at City Hall Square in Copenhagen. In partnership with the City of Copenhagen, Bellona hosted 101 Solutions to the Climate Change.  

“The opportunities and solutions to the climate crisis are available, and there’s no reason for world leaders not to reach an ambitious climate agreement when they convene in Copenhagen,” remarked Frederic Hauge at the launch.  

Bellona’s programme in Copenhagen – Bellona.org