COP MCQs From Past Papers

Correct answer: COP3. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at COP3 in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997.

Background: It set legally binding emission reduction targets for many developed countries.

• COP1: COP1 (Berlin, 1995) produced the Berlin Mandate.
• COP2: COP2 (Geneva, 1996) came before the protocol was adopted.
• COP4: COP4 (Buenos Aires, 1998) worked on the rules for implementing it.

Did you know? The Kyoto Protocol entered into force in 2005.

Memory trick: Kyoto = COP3 = 1997.

Correct answer: COP21. The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015.

Background: It aims to hold global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

• COP19: COP19 (Warsaw, 2013) created the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage.
• COP20: COP20 (Lima, 2014) prepared the ground for Paris.
• COP22: COP22 (Marrakesh, 2016) came after Paris.

Did you know? The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016.

Memory trick: Paris 2015 = COP21.

Correct answer: Marrakesh. COP22 was held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 7 to 18 November 2016.

Background: It was the first COP after the Paris Agreement entered into force in 2016, so it focused on turning the agreement into action.

• Paris: Paris hosted COP21 in 2015, where the Paris Agreement was adopted.
• New York: New York is the home of the UN General Assembly, not a COP22 venue.
• Moscow: Moscow has never hosted a COP.

Did you know? COP22 is associated with the Marrakesh Action Proclamation, a statement of global commitment to climate action.

Memory trick: Paris 21, Marrakesh 22.

Correct answer: COP26. COP26 was held in Glasgow, United Kingdom, from 31 October to 13 November 2021, after being delayed from 2020 by COVID-19.

Background: It produced the Glasgow Climate Pact on mitigation, adaptation, finance and cooperation.

• COP23: COP23 was held in Bonn, Germany, in 2017 under the presidency of Fiji.
• COP24: COP24 was held in Katowice, Poland, in 2018.
• COP25: COP25 was held in Madrid, Spain, in 2019.

Did you know? COP26 was the first COP to include language on phasing down unabated coal power.

Memory trick: 2021 = COP26 = Glasgow.

Correct answer: Egypt. COP27 was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022.

Background: It was an important conference for developing countries because parties agreed to set up funding arrangements for loss and damage.

• Scotland: Scotland (Glasgow, UK) hosted COP26 in 2021.
• Italy: Italy was the UK's partner for COP26 but did not host COP27.
• Spain: Spain (Madrid) hosted COP25 in 2019.

Did you know? COP27 adopted the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan.

Memory trick: Egypt = 27 = Sharm el-Sheikh.