When world leaders and policymakers gather to chart a global course on climate change, our experts are there to offer solutions. Here you’ll find the Council’s convenings and analysis from COPs past and present, diving into the most pressing questions for energy, resilience, politics, economics, and more.

Current Council coverage

The Atlantic Council at COP28

The Atlantic Council is on the ground at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, delivering analysis and gathering policymakers and climate leaders to map out the energy transition and how to build a climate-resilient world.

Past Council coverage

COP27

COP27 Egypt

The Atlantic Council is convening top policy leaders and delivering expert analysis on the ground at the twenty-seventh United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.

COP26

COP25

COP24

COP23

COP22

COP21

Content

EnergySource

Dec 15, 2023

COP28’s legacy will be measured by emissions reduction, not ‘historic’ text

By Landon Derentz

The COP28 final declaration is transformational in its reflections on fossil energy’s role in climate change. The conference’s real legacy, however, will be the efforts undertaken to foster the inclusive platform necessary to promote private and public actions and reduce global emissions.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Global Energy Agenda

Dec 5, 2023

A new generation of nuclear reactors is poised to set the United States—and the world—on the path to net zero

By John Wagner

Over the next decade, more than a dozen advanced reactor concepts will be demonstrated in the United States. Ensuring the advancement of this nuclear energy will be critical to securing security, prosperity, and environmental sustainability for future generations.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Transitions

Global Energy Agenda

Dec 5, 2023

A people-centric energy transformation

By H.E. Leila Benali

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and unprecedented levels of global debt, the world is taking on a triple planetary crisis: climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. To successfully tackle these crises, the world must embrace a holistic, just, and sustainable net-zero path.

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2023

Why India could play a pivotal role as climate mediator

By Rachel Rizzo, Théophile Pouget-Abadie

COP28 is a good opportunity for India to begin to flex its climate muscles on the world stage.

China Climate Change & Climate Action

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2023

Expert analysis: The successes and shortcomings in the fight against climate change at COP28

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts dispatched to Dubai, where they analyzed how global leaders responded to the greatest challenges posed by climate change.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Transitions

Global Energy Agenda

Nov 30, 2023

Public funds alone can’t solve the climate crisis

By Mafalda Duarte

Financing climate action, particularly in the developing world, is absolutely crucial, especially as the window to speed up and scale up investments in solutions rapidly narrows.

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

Global Energy Agenda

Nov 30, 2023

To achieve carbon neutrality, countries must navigate geopolitics and energy together

By Shin Hosaka

Energy dynamics, replete with their occasional turbulence, hold sway over global geopolitics. As such, multilateralism will be a key driving force to encourage energy transitions toward net zero.

Africa Americas

Global Energy Agenda

Nov 30, 2023

The 2024 Global Energy Agenda

By Landon Derentz, Christine Suh, Paul Kielstra (Editors)

The fourth edition of the Global Energy Agenda kicks off with a collection of essays by energy leaders that are rolling out during COP28. Rounding out the Agenda in early 2024, the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center will release the results of its annual survey of experts that takes the pulse on the geopolitical risks affecting energy markets, the future of fossil fuels, and the transition to clean energy.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

EnergySource

Nov 29, 2023

How COP28 can help cities drive climate action

By Willow Fortunoff, Maia Sparkman

Centering cities as enablers of both climate adaptation and mitigation is absolutely critical. In light of this, COP28 will include, for the first time, a summit dedicated to localized efforts to curb climate change.

Africa Americas

Issue Brief

Oct 24, 2023

Why COP28 is right to prioritize global methane and flaring reduction 

By Mark Davis, Landon Derentz, and William Tobin

Flaring and methane emissions from oil and gas are a substantial source of greenhouse gas emissions globally, but the funding, technology, and business practices are available to bring these emissions to near-zero. The COP28 platform can accelerate these solutions.

Africa Americas