Euroviews. COP Truce: A call for global unity to address climate and conflict

This year, the world has convened in Baku for COP29, a historic event that offers a chance to significantly advance the global climate agenda.

Yet COP29 brings more than a platform for discussions and pledges; it introduces an unprecedented call to action known as the “COP Truce”, urging nations to halt military operations during the month of the conference.

This appeal, inspired by the Olympic Truce, represents a powerful initiative from the COP29 Presidency, designed to foster peace, environmental preservation, and the global fight against climate change.

The COP Truce draws its inspiration from the Olympic Truce, which has been revived by the international community since the early 1990s.

Rooted in a United Nations resolution passed in 1993, the Olympic Truce calls on nations to suspend hostilities during the Olympic Games as a symbol of peace and unity. This tradition has been honoured biannually, with the latest resolution reaffirming the Olympic Truce in November 2023.

Recognising the similar need for unity in the climate crisis, the COP29 Presidency has adapted this concept to create the COP Truce initiative, calling for a halt to military operations during the month of the conference.

The COP Truce period is proposed to cover November — the duration of COP29. This period of ceasefire aligns with the goals of the climate action agenda, underscoring the connection between peace and environmental stability, helping to focus on our climate challenges.

The COP Truce is motivated by two core objectives: reducing environmental impact and promoting unity in the face of climate change.

Global military activities contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, estimated to account for 5.5% of annual global emissions — a