This is a controversial opinion but an outside view of COP is that in its most positive light, it has failed, miserably. It has not solved the climate crises, and even the few agreements which it has managed to pass have promised way to little and even then are still broken anyway.
I know the USA is boycotting for a different (and a very bad) reason, but I feel like (with hindsight) it would have been a smart move for other countries to abandon this conference and demand something better.
"and demand something better"
Demand from whom? If major players decide they don't give a shit, then this is the way it is.
The only major player that doesn't give a shit is the United States. Everyone else either isn't a major player or has policies in place to combat the climate crisis.
Hm. Russia really tries to show the world, that they are a major player and they do not seem to care about it at all.
And China does produce and installs tons of solar panels, windparks and batteries, but they also build as much coal plants as they can. African leaders all in all seems loud to use climate change as a means to get more developement funds/compensation and that's it. The arab world gets angry if the oil output gets reduced. Then there is south america, where from what I know of personal interactions, climate change is largley a unknown term, unless it is used to somehow attack the "west".
But yes, what to expect if the richtest country does not lead by example.
Something better? Than multilateral talks? Sorry, but can you expand on what you mean, a bit more?
Something better then yearly talks (only a portion of which are expected to end with meaningful agreements) with heavy sponsorships from the fossil fuel industry. Yes.
This is our climate we are talking about, failure to address climate change has dire consequences. I am simply asking our leaders to act accordingly, nothing less.