Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty — the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. In 1997, a number of nations approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful and legally binding measures and a commitment to reach a 5% reduction of CO₂ emissions on 1990 levels during 2008-2012.

The Conference of the Parties (COP in its acronym in English) is its highest decision-making authority. It is a partnership of all countries that are Parties to the Convention.

The COP is responsible for keeping international efforts to address climate change issues. Examines the implementation of the Convention and the commitments of the Parties in accordance with the objectives set new scientific discoveries and the experience gained in the implementation of policies relating to climate change. A key task of the COP is to review national communications and emission inventories submitted by Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the effects of the measures taken by the Parties and the progress made in achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention.

The COP meets every year since 1995. Since then, there have been 16 conferences, Mexico hosted the sixteenth in November 2010 and the 2011 COP17 is to be hosted by South Africa, in Durban.

Also, in June 2011, the RIO+20 Conference will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. IBERDROLA promotes that Rio+20 outcome should include a “green economy roadmap” with specific goals and actions at international level, as well as a package of reforms leading to a strengthened international environmental governance.

Celebrated conferences:

• XVI Conference on Climate Change (Mexico, 2010)
  At the same time, Green Solutions @COP16 was celebrated in Mexico. It’s an exhibition and exchange space in which IBERDROLA participated.
• XV Conference on Climate Change (Copenhagen, 2009)
• XIV Conference on Climate Change (Poznan, 2008)
• XIII Conference on Climate Change (Bali, 2007)
• XII Conference on Climate Change (Nairobi, 2006)
• XI Conference on Climate Change (Montreal, 2005)
• X Conference on Climate Change (Buenos Aires, 2004)
• IX Conference on Climate Change (Milan, 2003)
• VIII Conference on Climate Change (New Delhi, 2002)
• VII Conference on Climate Change (Marrakesh, 2001)
• VII Conference on Climate Change (Bonn, 2001)
• VI Conference on Climate Change (The Hague, 2000)
• V Conference on Climate Change (Bonn, 1999)
• IV Conference on Climate Change (Buenos Aires, 1998)
• Third Conference on Climate Change (Kyoto, 1997) – Kyoto Protocol
• II Conference on Climate Change (Geneva, 1996)
• I Conference on Climate Change (Berlin, 1995)