October 24, 2025

Since COP21, in Paris, nearly every nation has pledged to take part in the global climate effort. Over just the past few years, the UNFCCC negotiations have evolved through key milestones, such as COP26 (in Glasgow), where countries agreed for the first time to phase down coal and submitted their second round of NDCs; COP27 (in Sharm El-Sheikh), where parties reached a landmark decision to establish a Loss and Damage Fund for countries most affected by climate impacts; and COP28 (in Dubai), where the first Global Stocktake assessed collective progress and called for accelerated action to transition away from fossil fuels and scale up renewable energy deployment.

Check out the following infographic for other major COP moments throughout history; what themes to expect each day at COP30; and why it’s important to differentiate between the “blue” and “green” zones. For a COP30 primer, read The Road to Belém.

This infographic was developed by Chesang Rotich with the advice of Lisa Dale, director of the MA in Climate and Society program. Illustration by Traci Hefner.

Read this story for a primer on COP30, and join us on Monday, October 27, for the second panel in the Countdown to COP30 Series, to be held at 4:30pm at the Forum. It will feature experts from Columbia faculty discussing the university’s priorities for COP30; the role of academia in fostering innovative climate solutions; and what needs to happen in Belém to translate global negotiations into meaningful local action.