COP21: An important step in global climate change negotiations

Get the facts, follow the proceedings, and cover the issues in your classroom!

Here at Ontario EcoSchools, we are keen on changing our everyday actions to address climate change – and we know you’re doing a whole lot in your schools to change individual and school community habits. While individual actions can add up to make a difference, we also need to look to policy-makers to set targets and develop long-term strategies that make our governments accountable.

You’ve probably heard about the COP21 climate negotiations happening in Paris this December. The number ‘21’ at the end refers to this year being the 21st meeting of the conference of parties, first held in Berlin in 1995. And what exactly does a Conference of the Parties mean? Essentially, it’s a yearly meeting of all the countries that agreed to the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

If you’re curious to know how the implementation of the UNFCC has evolved, click here for a timeline of key milestones.

Following last year’s COP20 in Lima, Peru, COP21 is shaping up to be an important one for setting actionable targets. The meeting will take place from November 30 to December 11, and provides a great opportunity to explore climate change from a global policy perspective – and link into actions students can take. Over the next week, we will share resources and ideas for energizing class discussions leading up to, during, and after the talks.

Stay tuned for the next installment on Wednesday November 25th: “COP21: What It’s All About”