Attending COP online: A Delegate’s Perspective

The number of attendees at COP climate summits has surged dramatically in recent years. COP26 in Glasgow attracted nearly 40,000 participants, COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh saw around 50,000, and COP28 in Dubai set a record with close to 84,000 attendees. By comparison, most of the 28 COPs held since 1995 had fewer than 10,000 participants. This year, over 65,000 delegates registered for COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, potentially making it the second-largest COP in history.

Despite this growth, UN climate chief Simon Stiell has expressed a desire for smaller, more focused gatherings in the future, emphasising that “size does not necessarily translate to the quality of outcomes.” Similarly, during COP29, the Club of Rome called for scaling back the size of COPs and adopting smaller, more targeted meetings. They argued that the current structure cannot deliver the rapid transformations required to secure a safe climate future, stressing that streamlined, action-oriented sessions could drive more meaningful progress. This push for smaller COPs aligns with efforts to balance accessibility and environmental impact, which has also led to a growing emphasis on virtual participation.

Source: UNFCCC and Carbon Brief analysis.

Virtual delegations are growing in numbers. Virtual participation offers significant advantages, particularly in reducing the environmental impact of global gatherings like COP. But beyond the environmental benefits, virtual formats can enhance accessibility for individuals who might otherwise face barriers to in-person attendance, such as caregiving responsibilities, professional commitments, or financial constraints. By enabling broader and more inclusive participation, digital platforms can democratise access to critical climate discussions, ensuring diverse voices are heard while aligning with sustainability goals.

Attending COP29 as a virtual delegate

This year, I attended my first UNFCCC COP as a virtual delegate. While it was a valuable learning experience, it came with its challenges. When I applied to join the University’s delegation, I opted to attend virtually, knowing I wouldn’t be participating in any in-person events as a speaker. I felt that attending virtually would meet my needs and allow those with more active roles at COP29 to be prioritised for limited on-site badges.

On the first day of COP, I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially as this was my first time engaging with the event. A few days beforehand, the organisers sent an email with details about early access to the online Participant Event Platform. This secure platform helps participants manage schedules, network, and make the most of the conference. The organisers encouraged us to explore the agenda and enable meeting notifications in advance. They also introduced the networking feature, inviting us to update our profiles and start connecting with others. Closer to the start of COP29, a personalised schedule of meetings and links became available.

The role of an online delegate is largely passive. You can browse a long list of mandated and side events and save them in advance. You can join the meetings a few minutes before they start via Teams. One downside is that communication tends to be one-way, as features like chats and raised hands are not actively monitored, limiting opportunities for virtual delegates to ask questions. Additionally, there are few hybrid events that allow virtual delegates to participate as speakers, with most presentations taking place on-site. Another limitation was the inability to watch past events on demand, restricting access to valuable content.

While the networking feature holds promise, it is not very effective in its current form. With over 11,000 participants using the platform, finding people with similar interests is extremely difficult and time-consuming, especially without robust filtering options. Additionally, many delegates fail to update their profiles, further complicating the networking process and making it even more challenging to connect. 

Looking ahead to COP30

Altogether, I was happy not to add much to the carbon footprint of COP29 by connecting from my bedroom and office throughout the event. However, it felt isolating, with few opportunities to interact in a meaningful way with others. I turned to social media to share my reflections on the events I attended, which provided some engagement, but ultimately, I felt that I contributed very little to the conversations shaping the future of climate action. The platform and overall experience need more thought to facilitate truly active engagement. More hybrid or online events, designed specifically for virtual participants, would be ideal.

In terms of inclusivity, most virtual events were in English, which could exclude non-English speakers, and the timing of events wasn’t always optimal for all time zones. A fully functional COP platform could ensure broader accessibility, enabling more people to engage regardless of location or language. As we prepare for COP30, I would welcome changes to make COP a genuinely hybrid experience, where both in-person and virtual delegates have equal opportunities to contribute. This could include features such as real-time multilingual translation, interactive virtual networking spaces, and dedicated online sessions. A dynamic agenda accommodating multiple time zones would foster global inclusivity. Hybrid sessions should allow virtual delegates to engage in real-time Q&A, while recording sessions for later viewing would help participants catch up on missed content, regardless of time zone. Lastly, expanding the virtual platform to include country pavilions would allow virtual delegates to interact with them, gaining insights into what countries are doing and communicating during the event.

Written by Dr Rosario Michel-Villarreal, Lecturer in Sustainability and Business