COP stands for Conference of Parties and refers to the annual negotiations held under the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is an international gathering of representatives from 195 countries (the Parties) who meet to decide policies vital to the health of our planet under the looming threat of climate change.

Dr. Avik Basu and Dr. Richard Rood from the University of Michigan, co-teaches a course (EAS 501) on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Following an introduction by former School of Natural Resources Dean, Dan Brown, Dr. Basu described the history of the COP at the 2017 Climate Blue symposium, With or Without US? (starts at 2:30 in video below):