Understanding the multilateral negotiations on climate change ahead of COP27: Priorities for the African region

Abstract

This article presents a rationale for understanding how the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) operates in advancing the global response to climate change. It does this by highlighting key characteristics of this framework convention, whose multilateral process has led to the establishment of treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The article also points out the complexity of the process within the annual meetings of the UNFCCC’s Conference of the Parties (COP), the supreme decision-making body of the convention. Furthermore, the slow pace of progress of these multilateral negotiations and the reasons responsible for such slow progress are highlighted. The article notes that the next COP, under the leadership of Egypt, presents a significant opportunity to Africa to influence the process. As a whole, the article aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of this important multilateral process and the value of incremental change.