The Climate Diplomat : A Personal History of the COP Conferences

'In its best passages reads like a briskly paced thriller' - Fiona Harvey, The Guardian 'There is nobody better on climate change and international negotiations' - Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero 'I have nothing but the deepest admiration for his incredible contribution over the years and his continued commitment to climate action in the face of great personal challenge' - Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC 2010-2016 Drawing on over three decades of experience as the UK and EU's lead climate negotiator, Peter Betts paints a warts-and-all picture of how world leaders and diplomats tackle the COP negotiations, providing a ringside seat at pivotal moments, such as the run-up to Copenhagen (COP15), the Cartagena Dialogue, the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement (COP21) and Glasgow (COP26). The Climate Diplomat is a unique insider account of the discussions that have shaped and continue to shape the future of our planet, but it also describes how the major powers such as the US, the EU and China negotiate with one another. Reflecting on his life's work in the final months of his life, Betts provides a revealing portrait of international politics at the highest level with key insights into the motivations of all the major players. He also gives a detailed history of COP, explaining how this controversial and often embattled forum has been crucial in altering the future of our planet's ecosystem.