The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the world’s most significant summit on climate change. It's an annual summit of all the countries that are signed up to the United Nation’s treaty to combat climate change - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - which came into being in 1994.
Negotiations between governments sit at the heart of each COP, but over the past few years the presence of business and civil society has dramatically increased given action needs to be taken by all of society to implement the Paris Agreement.
National Grid has participated in COPs since 2021. The most recent COP, COP30, was held in Belem, Brazil between 10-22 November 2025. Four National Grid delegates attended the summit to participate in events and demonstrate our continued commitment to the energy transition globally. The delegation shared best practice with our peers and organisations in other countries, supporting the shift to implementation globally, and brought back key insights to inform our own strategy and engage our colleagues on sustainability issues.
As part of our broader international engagement strategy, we also actively participate in major climate events such as London Climate Action Week and New York Climate Week. Through these platforms we share expertise, build collaborations, and contribute to global efforts to facilitate a cleaner energy future.
Steve Smith
Chief Strategy and Regulation Officer
Sandy Grace
VP US Policy and Regulatory Strategy
Matt Hinde
Head of International Policy and Engagement
Louise Clark-White
Director of International Sustainability
Our hosted events at COP30
We participated in 37 events at COP30, hosting six ourselves, partnering with 12 organisations and engaging with many more. Get a sense of what it's like to be at COP by watching the recordings of our events below.
Event Name | Link to Recording |
| Powering People: Advancing Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQb792mKjL0
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| How Can Innovation Enable the Connection of Data Centres at Pace? | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nemCnrCZRo8
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| The Elephant in the Room: Why Has Political Consensus on the Energy Transition Broken Down? | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVUCnVsQVhs
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