The timid results of the COP23

Although less publicized than the COP21 of December 15, 2015, COP23 was held this year from November 6 to 17, in Bonn, Germany. What to remember from this conference to which more than 197 countries were invited ? While some measures and progress are notable, the results of this 23rd annual conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is quite disappointing…

197 countries meeting in Germany

COP23 is the second Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since the ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2015. Nearly 197 delegates from the countries of the world were then invited, almost the entire globe, but also more than 15,000 scientists came to warn about the degradation of the planet.

The countries of Europe were of course present, but also many African countries (Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo and Morocco), whose words are not often brought to light. While the average size of a delegation for COP23 is 45 people, the 5 largest delegations of this conference are African : 492 displaced persons for Côte d’Ivoire, 355 participants for Guinea or 340 delegates to represent the Democratic Republic of Congo. And for good reason : for years, “Africa is by far the most fragile continent facing global warming ” because it suffers the full impact.

These figures are significantly larger than the “leading” countries directly concerned, such as China (82 delegates), Russia (71 people), Great Britain (45 people) and the United States (48 displaced people only). It is questionable whether these countries really feel concerned by the upheavals affecting our planet…

What to remember from COP23?

Unfortunately, not much… This new world summit had for main objective to bring a more technical approach on the solutions to be put in place with regard to global warming and regulation of the emissions of greenhouse gases. Solutions to meet the commitments made by countries during the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015 : to contain global warming to less than 2°C, to pour $ 100 billion from rich countries to poor countries to cope with upheavals in progress… If COP23 were to be “the moment of truth” according to Nicolas Hulot, French Minister for the Ecological Transition, other representatives remained on their hunger, even stating that they had “never seen a COP with such a low adrenaline rate“.

Some agreements have, however, been found : an alliance for the removal of coal from some 20 countries (including France and Canada but not China, India or Asia) by 2030 or at least “Ocean Pathway” (To recognize the links between the ocean and climate change). Interesting but far too light measures compared to the challenges ahead…