What is the COP?
The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the
Convention are represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and any
other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective
implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements.
More Background on the COP
A key task for the COP is to review the national communications and emission inventories submitted by
Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the effects of the measures taken by Parties and the
progress made in achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention.
The COP meets every year, unless the Parties decide otherwise. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin,
Germany in March, 1995. The COP meets in Bonn, the seat of the secretariat, unless a Party offers to host the
session. Just as the COP Presidency rotates among the five recognized UN regions - that is, Africa, Asia,
Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe and Others – there is a
tendency for the venue of the COP to also shift among these groups.
See also:
Bureau of the COP
Information on election and membership
of the bodies of the Convention
