🙅 I avoid COPs, but I still think we need them - do you?

🌐 Here’s something most people do not know about me: I have never been to a COP. Nor do I plan to.

🤔 Why? I have a simple litmus test for my business travel: Will the event go ahead the same even if I do not attend?

👎 Clearly it will make no difference whether I am one of 50,000 people in attendance at COP30 or not. So I pass.

🤳 COPs have come under heavy - IMO justified - criticism. Every year, this mass gathering leads to around 100,000t-150,000t of CO2 emissions. And it can feel like it has become the “Davos of climate”: an opportunity to be seen more than a place to effect change.

🪞 So why do I think we still need it? Whether we like it or not, it’s the best we got. It is the only forcing and accountability mechanism we have once a year to hold up a mirror to companies and especially governments. That - in itself - is priceless and essential.

🤷 Should we change the format? Absolutely. I reckon we could have a similar impact with 10% of the attendees. How to get there? No idea. It seems like COPs are just getting bigger and bigger every year.

🙋🏻‍♀️ What is your take? Should we keep COPs? Do share your experiences on both sides in the comments to add depth to this conversation.

✈️ Finally, if you are there or just coming back: consider compensating your emissions with removals. It’s the least we can and should do when we fly around the world in the name of climate.

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