Conference of the Parties or Conference of the People? Introducing a series of alternative grassroots COPs

The Conferences of the Parties (COP) annually assess progress in dealing with climate change and towards legally-binding obligations to reduce or limit greenhouse gas emissions. Despite almost three decades of COPs and landmark treaties such as the Kyoto protocol (1997) and the Paris agreement (2015), global greenhouse gas emissions are a far cry from the emission pathways limiting global warming below 1.5-2°C as defined by the scientific consensus synthesized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The failure at igniting state-level actions for climate mitigation stems from many factors, including a politico-economic hegemony, vested interests and techno-economic mindsets (Stoddard et al., 2021), well-embodied in the meager, voluntarism-based outcomes of increasingly questioned COPs. It may make sense that leading scientists still go to COPs to carry the voice of scientific consensus and convey the need for rapid action. However, scientists may also consider taking part in transformative changes through bottom-up initiatives where the conversation between scientists, collectives, citizens and media is more easily insulated from intense lobbying and greenwashing, allowing to focus on fact-based and ethics-driven endeavors, while showcasing unbridled perspectives for policymakers. Here we report the example of alternative COPs that took place in France in parallel to the COP28 in Dubai, organized by the Scientifiques en rebellion collective during the international Scientist Rebellion campaign “How much more climate failure can we take?”. Articulating a series of short events across French cities culminating with a 4-day alterCOP in Bordeaux, this grassroots initiative by scientists and activists was an invitation to take time to germinate new imaginations and popular initiatives, in a certain way “slowing down” to catalyze action considering the broader picture. Topics covered by this alterCOP took a systemic approach, beyond the climate breakdown, to include the other intertwined planetary boundaries (ecosystem health, water cycle, land use, etc.), discussing other economic systems (e.g. degrowth), international solidarity, and stimulating various world representations (present or desirable) and communication media, from artistic performances to a mock trial of a fossil fuel company.

References
Stoddard, I, et al. (2021). Three decades of climate mitigation: why haven't we bent the global emissions curve?. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 46, 653-689.