The Conference of the Parties and Its Role in Global Climate Governance (1992-2023)

This study critically evaluates the effectiveness of the Conference of the Parties (COP) in global climate governance from 1992 to 2023, with objectives to identify institutional weaknesses and propose actionable reforms. Against a backdrop of 60% increased CO2 emissions since COP's inception and a projected 2.7°C warming trajectory, the research employs analyzing qualitative COP decisions and quantitative emissions data, finance flows, and compliance rates - while examining key summits (Kyoto, Paris, COP26-28) as case studies. The findings reveal systemic failures: merely 24% of national pledges align with 2°C goals; adaptation finance meets only 10% of developing nations' needs, and fossil fuel lobbyists at COP28 outnumbered Indigenous delegates 10:1, with the Loss and Damage Fund remaining critically underfunded (700Mpledged versus 400B required). The study recommends urgent institutional overhauls including binding emissions targets, exclusion of fossil fuel lobbyists, mandatory 0.7% GNI climate finance contributions from wealthy nations, and replacement of consensus-based decision-making with majority voting to prevent obstruction by polluting states, arguing these reforms are essential to transform COP from a forum of rhetoric into an effective mechanism for climate justice and mitigation.