Hi! It’s konkaz (@konkazuk).
It’s been a long time since I first started hearing about climate change, and I’ve seen plenty of footage of natural disasters, yet I’ve been putting the issue on the backburner, using the busyness of daily life as an excuse to treat it as a low priority.
However, over the past few years, social events and the books I’ve read have connected ideas like climate change, inequality, and political systems in my mind.
Realising how urgent it is, I’ve decided to make climate change the focus of my everyday life.
At the same time, I realised how shockingly little I knew. With that in mind, I aim to deepen my understanding, structure my thoughts through this blog, and gradually improve so that I can take meaningful action.
For those who are curious, feel free to stop by and explore.
* If you press the ‘目次’ button below, the menu for this page will appear. 👇
COP so far…
“COP” stands for “Conference of the Parties“, which refers to the meeting of countries that have signed and agreed to a treaty.
In this context, the treaty in question is the “UNFCCC” (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), an international agreement aimed at addressing climate change.
🔹A brief explanation about UNFCCC
As the primary decision-making body of this treaty, “COP” convenes once a year, providing a platform for countries to deliberate on strategies for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and formulating global climate policies.
1992 – Earth Summit / Adoption of the Framework Convention on Climate Change
1995 – COP1 / Berlin, Germany
1996 – COP2 / Geneva, Switzerland
1997 – COP3 / Kyoto, Japan
🔹COP3 “Kyoto Protocol”
1998 – COP4 / Buenos Aires, Argentina
1999 – COP5 / Bonn, Germany
2000 – COP6 (part1) / The Hague, Netherlands (November)
2001 – COP6 (part2) / Bonn, Germany (July)
2001 – COP7 / Marrakech, Morocco
2002 – COP8 / New Delhi, India
2003 – COP9 / Milan, Italy
2004 – COP10 / Buenos Aires, Argentina
2005 – COP11 / Montreal, Canada
2006 – COP12 / Nairobi, Kenya
2007 – COP13 / Bali, Indonesia
2008 – COP14 / Poznań, Poland
2009 – COP15 / Copenhagen, Denmark
🔹COP15 “Copenhagen Summit”
2010 – COP16 / Cancún, Mexico
2011 – COP17 / Durban, South Africa
2012 – COP18 / Doha, Qatar
2013 – COP19 / Warsaw, Poland
2014 – COP20 / Lima, Peru
2015 – COP21 / Paris, France
🔹COP21 “Paris Agreement”
2016 – COP22 / Marrakech, Morocco
2017 – COP23 / Bonn, Germany, hosted by Fiji
2018 – COP24 / Katowice, Poland
2019 – COP25 / Madrid, Spain, hosted by Chile
2021 – COP26 / Glasgow, United Kingdom
🔹COP26 “The Fossil Fuel COP”
2022 – COP27 / Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
2023 – COP28 / Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2024 – COP29 / Baku, Azerbaijan
🔹COP29 “Finance COP”
Key Vocabulary and Phrases on Climate Change, Inequality, and Politics
This section will feature key English words and phrases related to climate change, economic inequality, and politics. I’ll explain the meanings of terms commonly seen in news articles and provide related context to help deepen your understanding of global issues.
▫️ CCS
▫️ Net Zero
▫️ Business Interests
▫️Carbon Reserve
▫️ Petrostate
▫️ IPCC
Eco Thoughts with Occasional Detours
I’ll be jotting down my thoughts on climate change and related events here, along with bits and pieces from my daily life.
Must-Read Book Summaries: Climate Change, Inequality & Politics Explained
In this section, I’m sharing summaries of books I’ve read that I really think you should check out if you want to get a good grasp on climate change, social inequality, and political systems.
Sometimes being shocked is what drives us to take action, so even if you think reading books is a hassle, please take a moment to check out this article.
Books on Climate Change
▫️ THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
by Naomi Klein
Naomi Klein’s ‘This Changes Everything’ is a great book to understand the impact oil companies have on climate change.
It reveals shocking facts one after another, helping readers clearly see how humanity’s future is at serious risk if things continue as they are.
If you’re not a fan of long or dense books, please at least take a look at this article.
▫️ REWILDING THE SEA
by Charles Clover
When we think of climate change, our attention tends to focus on visible changes on land.
Charles Clover, however, was one of the first to shift the spotlight to the sea and take action.
I recommend reading ‘Rewilding the Sea’ to understand the harsh realities our oceans are facing today.
▫️ REGENESIS
by George Monbiot
When it comes to environmental activists in the UK, George Monbiot is often the first name that comes to mind.
Through the lens of ‘soil’, he reveals the shocking reality of how our planet is being degraded while our appetites are manipulated by business interests.
▫️CLIMATE JUSTICE
by Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson’s ‘Climate Justice’ may well be the very first book you should pick up on climate change. When you are not yet able to feel the urgency of the crisis, nothing delivers a wake-up call more sharply than hearing the firsthand voices of people already suffering its devastating impacts.
Reading this book reminds us that we all live on the same planet, and in the end, no one can escape.
▫️ SILENCE WOULD BE TREASON
This is a biography compiled from the letters of Ken Saro-Wiwa, who fought for his village in Nigeria’s Delta region, devastated by Shell’s fossil fuel extraction, and ultimately lost his life.
If we do not face these challenges with the same level of resolve, the day of humanity’s extinction may truly be drawing near.
Books on Economic Inequality
▫️ THE TRADING GAME
by Gary Stevenson
Everyone’s heard of Gary Stevenson’s ‘The Trading Game’ — and for good reason. His influence on today’s UK and global society is massive.
This semi-autobiographical novel tells the story of his journey from a working-class upbringing to becoming a trader at Citibank, making millions, and then awakening to the harsh reality of global inequality—and to his personal mission.
His YouTube channel, @garyseconomics, is also highly recommended.
▫️ END TIMES
by Peter Turchin
I wasn’t sure whether to classify this book by Peter Turchin under politics, but his pioneering work in “Cliodynamics”, a new field of study developed with his colleagues, offers clear insights into the patterns of economic inequality throughout history and the recurring societal cycles that accompany it.
A truly fascinating read.
Books on Politics
▫️ HOW THEY BROKE BRITAIN
by James O’Brien
‘How They Broke Britain’ by James O’Brien, the popular LBC radio presenter, is a compelling exposé focusing on Brexit and the reckless actions of the greed-driven British media and the Conservative government.
Once you start reading, it’s impossible not to be drawn in.
▫️ WHO RULES THE WORLD?
by Noam Chomsky
Thanks to Noam Chomsky’s book, what had been a vague suspicion in my mind is now much clearer.
The work offers a thorough analysis of the motives behind U.S. efforts to obstruct democratic processes abroad—particularly in developing nations—and details the tactics employed.
▫️ WHAT IS POPULISM?
by Jan-Werner Müller
If you want to survive in today’s world, you’ve got to know what “populism” really means.
Jan-Werner Müller’s book breaks it down so you can spot—and steer clear of—those dangerous politicians you might wrongly assume are on your side.
