Going from Crisis to Cooperation

Global Climate Commons Forum

Where the People Are the Platform, and the Story Is the System

Transforming Conferences into a Regenerative Media Exposition

Our ongoing, institutionalized world Summits Are Losing Relevance — And What Could Replace Them

By Steven Jay

As climate catastrophes intensify across the globe, the annual United Nations Climate Change Conferences — known as COPs — have become increasingly controversial. Once heralded as vital gatherings to steer global climate policy, many now view them as bloated, compromised, and ineffective. With world leaders, corporate interests, and civil society groups descending each year on lavish venues, the question looms large: Are these summits still fit for purpose?

The Cracks in the COP

Since its inception in 1995, the UN’s COP (Conference of the Parties) process has grown into the world’s most visible climate platform. But in recent years, its credibility has been shaken by a cascade of systemic failures and contradictions.

One of the most glaring issues is the non-binding nature of its agreements. After decades of negotiations, the Paris Agreement (COP21, 2015) was lauded as a breakthrough — yet it relies on voluntary national pledges, with no enforcement mechanisms. Countries can miss their targets without consequence, and most are doing just that.

Meanwhile, the influence of fossil fuel interests has soared. At COP28 in Dubai, over 2,400 fossil fuel lobbyists were accredited — more than the number of delegates from the most climate-vulnerable countries combined. The conference itself was presided over by Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, drawing widespread accusations of conflict of interest.

“The fox is not just guarding the henhouse — it’s chairing the meeting and writing the rules,” quipped one activist at the summit.

Climate Theater vs. Climate Action

Critics argue that COP has become a kind of global stage for greenwashing, where governments and corporations make grand pronouncements but deliver little. Terms like “net zero by 2050” and “nature-based solutions” dominate press releases, but often mask a reliance on carbon offsets, future technologies, or accounting tricks rather than real emission cuts.

Behind the scenes, negotiations are often bogged down by bureaucratic inertia, with consensus required among nearly 200 countries. The result? Vague statements, like the now-infamous agreement to “phase down” rather than “phase out” fossil fuels — a linguistic sleight of hand that conceals inaction.

Adding to the frustration is the exclusion of frontline communities and Indigenous voices. While fossil fuel representatives enjoy full access, many activists from the Global South struggle with visa barriers, funding shortages, and limited participation in negotiations.

A Failing Scorecard

The world is currently on track for 2.7–3°C of warming, far above the Paris target of 1.5°C.
Rich countries have failed to deliver the promised $100 billion per year in climate finance.
Much of the “aid” is offered as loans, further indebting developing nations.
Key root causes — like militarism, extractivism, and economic inequality — remain unaddressed.

A regenerative and Systemic Alternative

If the COP process is broken, what could take its place?

A growing chorus of thinkers, scientists, and grassroots movements are envisioning a new model: one grounded in justice, regeneration, and systems change.

The “Global Climate Commons Forum” — A Vision for the Future

This alternative model might look more like a decentralized, permanent process than a once-a-year event. Here’s what a regenerative, systemic approach could involve:

Ground-Up Governance

Led by frontline communities, Indigenous nations, youth, and civil society — not just states and corporations.
Utilizes citizen assemblies, people’s tribunals, and participatory councils to shape decisions.

Real Accountability

Binding frameworks, not just voluntary pledges.
A global climate justice court to hold polluters accountable — including corporations and governments.
Transparent tracking and peer-review of national and corporate actions.

Interconnected Systems

Climate policy embedded within broader ecological, social, and economic systems.
Direct integration with regenerative agriculture, food sovereignty, degrowth economics, health, and biodiversity protection.
Recognition of the rights of nature, not just human interests.

Decentralized, Ongoing Dialogues

Instead of a single annual COP, create permanent regional forums, connected globally.
These could be hosted in climate-vulnerable regions and rotate regularly, ensuring accessibility and inclusion.

Regenerative Culture and Media

Shift from extractive narratives to experiential media and storytelling that fosters ecological awareness.
Events would include arts, healing, learning, and co-creation — not just policy talks.

Democratized Climate Finance

A Global Climate Reparations Fund, governed by the communities most affected.
Climate finance delivered as grants, not loans, with direct funding to grassroots projects.

In Summary

The climate crisis demands not just better diplomacy — but a transformation of how we relate to each other and the Earth. The current COP model, shaped by outdated power structures and economic interests, may no longer serve this purpose.

It’s time to reimagine global climate cooperation: not as a stage-managed summit of power elites, but as a living, participatory ecosystem of people, planet, and possibility.

Dysfunction:

The United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COPs), organized by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), have been crucial in setting the global climate agenda. However, over the years, many critics — including scientists, activists, indigenous leaders, and even former UN officials — have pointed to a range of deep-seated issues that have made these events increasingly seen as irrelevant, ineffective, or even compromised. Here’s a breakdown of the main problems:

1. Lack of Binding Commitments

Voluntary pledges: The Paris Agreement (COP21) marked a shift toward nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which are non-binding. Countries set their own goals and are not penalized for failing to meet them.
No enforcement mechanism: There’s no accountability system to ensure compliance. Countries can fall short without consequences.

2. Influence of Fossil Fuel Lobbyists

Corporate capture: COP events have seen a growing presence of fossil fuel lobbyists. At COP28 (2023), there were more than 2,400 fossil fuel lobbyists — more than the total number of delegates from the 10 most climate-vulnerable countries combined.
Conflict of interest: Having oil executives (like the head of ADNOC chairing COP28) in leadership roles undermines trust and credibility.

3. Incrementalism and Delay

Kicking the can down the road: Year after year, COPs tend to produce vague language (e.g., “phasing down” instead of “phasing out” fossil fuels) and delayed action rather than the urgent transformative shifts scientists say are needed.
Too little, too late: Current national pledges (NDCs) put the world on track for around 2.7–3°C of warming, far above the 1.5°C goal.

4. Greenwashing and PR Stunts

Window dressing: Many governments and corporations use COP as a platform to announce flashy sustainability goals that aren’t backed by real systemic change.
Net zero loopholes: Companies and countries rely heavily on carbon offsets and future technologies rather than reducing actual emissions now.

5. Exclusion and Marginalization

Limited access for Global South voices: Indigenous peoples, frontline communities, and youth activists often struggle to get meaningful access, while major polluters are overrepresented.
Token representation: When marginalized voices are included, it’s often symbolic — not with real decision-making power.

6. Bureaucratic Paralysis

Slow, consensus-based processes: The need for unanimous agreement among nearly 200 countries makes ambitious action difficult and leads to lowest-common-denominator outcomes.
Overly diplomatic language: The use of ambiguous, watered-down terms undermines urgency and clarity.

7. Disconnect from Reality

Focus on diplomacy over action: Negotiations often focus on language and political maneuvering rather than on-the-ground solutions or people-centered innovation.
Lack of integration with system-level change: COPs rarely address root causes such as economic models based on extraction and growth, military emissions, or systemic injustice.

8. Failure to Deliver Climate Finance

Unmet promises: Wealthy nations pledged $100 billion/year in climate finance starting in 2020 — a target that has not been met.
Loans over grants: Much of the “climate finance” offered comes in the form of loans, increasing debt burdens on vulnerable countries.

9. Overemphasis on Technology Fixes

Techno-optimism: Reliance on future technologies like carbon capture, hydrogen, or geoengineering distracts from urgent emission cuts and simpler, proven solutions.
False solutions: Many proposed fixes (like “blue hydrogen” or BECCS) are criticized for being unscalable, expensive, or harmful to ecosystems.

10. Legitimacy Crisis

Loss of public trust: With each passing year of underachievement, more people view COP as theater — where leaders make promises with no intent to follow through.
Protests and walkouts: Climate justice groups have staged mass walkouts at several COPs in protest of greenwashing, exclusion, and lack of ambition.

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Reimagine COP: Global Climate Commons Forum

Join the Movement

What’s Broken

Explore the reasons why the UN COP climate summits are failing to meet the urgency of the climate crisis — from fossil fuel lobbying to unfulfilled climate finance.

Our Vision

We’re building a regenerative, decentralized alternative: the Global Climate Commons Forum. Led by frontline voices, centered on justice, and rooted in systems change.