COP27 will shape the future of sustainability practices as the world strives to achieve net zero. Find out more about the conference, its impacts, and the role of business in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

• COP stands for Conference of the Parties, and this year will be the 27th meeting since the United Nations first started the climate change conferences in 1995.
• The countries who signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994 will be attending.
• Taking place from the 6th – 18th November 2022, more than 200 governments are invited to attend the conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, where the event is being held.

• Previous COP conferences have had significant impacts on the journey towards sustainability, for example the Paris Agreement at COP21 and powerful words from Greta Thunberg at COP25.
• This year, we can expect countries to report on their progress since the Paris Agreement, as well as make more decisions on cutting carbon emissions to reach net zero.
• Some areas not fully resolved or covered at COP26 will be discussed, including: loss and damage finance (helping countries recover from the effects of climate change); establishment of a global carbon market; and strengthening commitments to reduce coal use.

• The outcomes of COP27 could affect business around the globe, leading to new regulations and changes.
• However, this shouldn’t be the only reason to work towards a more sustainable future and reaching net zero, as there can be other benefits to workforces, customer perceptions and revenue.

At the Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, we have two online short courses that will enable you to take a deep dive into how sustainability will make an impact on the future of business and law. Find out more below.

Law and Sustainability: Tackling Global Environmental Challenges
The Future of Sustainable Business: Enterprise and the Environment