COP28: Charting the Course for Urgent Climate Action 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

COP28, the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023. This conference was significant as it focused on implementing the Paris Climate Change Agreement and ramping up ambition and action. The primary goals included limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate change effects, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Over 70,000 delegates attended COP28, including member states of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and other experts and stakeholders. The conference comprised various sessions, including the supreme decision-making body of the Convention, the decision-making body of the Paris Agreement, and the decision-making body of the Kyoto Protocol.

COP28 discussions aimed to make progress in several workstreams, such as finalizing the loss and damage finance facility details to support vulnerable communities, driving towards a global goal on finance, and accelerating both energy and just transition. An important feature of COP28 was the conclusion of the first-ever global stocktake, a process for countries and stakeholders to assess collective progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The conference also highlighted the importance of government decisions in accelerating ambition in climate action plans due by 2025. COP28 was a pivotal event for identifying global solutions for limiting global temperature rise, informing countries' preparations for revised and more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions, and accelerating the green transition to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement​​​​.

 

“The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP 21 in Paris on December 12, 2015, is a landmark global pact to combat climate change and to accelerate actions for a sustainable low carbon future. Its central aim is to keep global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement includes commitments from all countries to reduce their emissions and to strengthen these efforts over time, mainly through "nationally determined contributions" (NDCs). It also emphasizes the need for global cooperation in adaptation, finance, technology, and capacity-building to support developing countries. A key feature is the global stocktake every 5 years to assess collective progress and inform further actions​”.

 

“The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005, is an international treaty that commits its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that (a) global warming exists and (b) human-made CO2 emissions have caused it. It was the first agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to mandate country-by-country emissions reduction targets. The Protocol's first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. Under the Protocol, developed countries were obligated to reduce their collective emissions by 5% below 1990 levels.”

 

Key Outcomes

 

Ambitious Emission Reduction Targets

• Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): COP28 saw many countries stepping up their NDCs, committing to more ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This aligns to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, aiming for 1.5 degrees.
  
  

• Sector-Specific Targets: There was a notable emphasis on sector-specific strategies, particularly in areas like energy, transportation, and agriculture, which are significant contributors to global emissions.
  
  

 

Finance for Climate Action

• Scaling Up Climate Finance: A critical outcome of COP28 was the agreement to scale up climate finance, particularly for adaptation and mitigation efforts in developing countries.
  
  

• Green Investment: The conference also witnessed commitments to facilitate green investment, with discussions on redirecting finance from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
  
  

• Support for Vulnerable Nations: There was a stronger focus on supporting vulnerable nations, including small island developing states and least developed countries, in accessing climate finance.
  
  

Addressing Loss and Damage

• Establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund: Building on the momentum of previous COPs, COP28 made significant progress in establishing mechanisms for addressing loss and damage due to climate impacts.
  
  

• Operational Framework: The conference laid down an operational framework for this fund, detailing how financial support will be provided to countries most affected by climate disasters.

Innovative Solutions and Technology

• Showcasing Innovations: COP28 highlighted various innovative solutions to climate change, ranging from advancements in renewable energy technologies to sustainable agriculture and land-use practices.
  
  

• Promoting Technology Transfer: There was a concerted effort to promote technology transfer, particularly to developing countries, enabling them to leapfrog to cleaner, more sustainable technologies.

Inclusion of Marginalized Voices

• Diverse Representation: COP28 was notable for its inclusion of marginalized voices, ensuring that indigenous peoples, youth, and other underrepresented groups had a platform to share their perspectives and solutions.
  
  

• Community-Led Initiatives: The conference recognized and promoted community-led initiatives, acknowledging their critical role in climate adaptation and resilience.

“Research shows that the world needs to reduce emissions 43% below 2019 levels by 2030 to avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change. Current national climate plans will only achieve an 8% reduction at best. Meanwhile, subsidies for fossil fuels — the largest driver of climate change — rose to a record $7 trillion in 2022.” (COP28 Resource Hub, 2023)

 

Challenges in Achieving Outcomes

The outcomes of COP28, while positive in some aspects, do not address some of the significant financial challenges that renewable energy sources face. Although renewable energy is the most lucrative option for most people, it requires more initial investment than other technologies, and interest rates and misaligned policies often make wind and solar power unattainable for developing countries. It is crucial that these financial challenges are dealt with in the next UN climate summit, as they have significant implications for the global transition to clean energy.

However, the final outcome of COP28 has some loopholes that benefit oil- and gas-producing countries and fossil fuel interests. For instance, the deal lends support to "transitional fuels," which is widely understood to be a reference to natural gas, the third-most carbon-intensive method of generating electricity. Moreover, the outcome does not acknowledge the limitations of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, even though it suggests that the technology should be focused particularly in hard-to-abate sectors. It is important to note that according to all estimates, CCS can play only a minor role in our efforts to combat climate change, capturing just one of the 15 gigatons of carbon emissions reductions needed from the energy sector by 2030, as per the IEA net-zero scenario. The transition to clean energy should not be slowed down by using natural gas and carbon capture technology as excuses.

Additionally, the charter introduced by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, committing participating companies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, covers only their own operations and not the fuel sold by oil and gas firms, which account for up to 95% of the sector's contribution to the climate crisis. It is of utmost importance that governments compel the oil and gas industry to address both their production and use of these fuels, while also ensuring that demand for them is significantly reduced. The world will not meet its climate goals unless these actions are taken.

 

The Way Forward

 

Enhanced International Collaboration

• Strengthening Global Partnerships: The success of climate action depends on robust international partnerships. Countries need to work together more closely, sharing knowledge, resources, and technology.
  
  

• Balanced Responsibilities: Developed nations must acknowledge their historical contributions to climate change and take the lead in emission reduction efforts and climate finance contributions.

Support for Adaptation and Resilience Building

• Focus on Vulnerable Nations: Special attention should be given to small island nations, least developed countries, and African states that are disproportionately affected by climate change.
  
  

• Community-Based Adaptation: Empowering local communities to implement their own adaptation strategies is crucial. This involves supporting grassroots initiatives and incorporating indigenous knowledge into broader plans.
  
  

Engagement of All Stakeholders

• Role of Non-State Actors: The involvement of businesses, NGOs, civil society, and academia is critical in implementing and scaling up climate action.
  
  

• Inclusive Decision-Making: Ensuring that all voices, especially those of marginalized and indigenous communities, are heard in the climate dialogue and decision-making processes.
  
  

Implementation of Climate Finance Commitments

• Scaling Up Finance: Developed countries must honour and exceed their financial commitments to support climate action in developing nations.
  
  

• Innovative Financing Mechanisms: Exploring new financing models like green bonds, climate funds, and private sector investments is necessary to mobilize additional resources.
  
  

Transition to Sustainable Energy

• Phasing Out Fossil Fuels: Accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources is a key action point.
  
  

• Investment in Clean Technologies: Significant investment in research, development, and deployment of clean energy technologies is required to make this transition feasible and effective.
  
  

Accountability and Transparency

• Monitoring and Reporting: There needs to be a robust mechanism for monitoring progress and ensuring transparency in how countries are meeting their commitments.
  
  

• Public Engagement: Keeping the public informed and engaged in climate action can help maintain momentum and hold governments and businesses accountable.

 

The conclusion of COP28 marked not an end, but the beginning of a critical phase in the global response to climate change. All nations have formally agreed to transition away from fossil fuels and increase the use of renewable energy. The focus has been on elevating cities and food systems in the fight against climate change. The next essential tasks include turning the goals expressed at COP28 into national action and ensuring the necessary finance is available to implement them. It is important to note that these commitments must be considered as the minimum requirement in the fight against climate change. 

Climate-vulnerable communities and countries cannot afford to be shortchanged. The responsibility lies in the hands of countries to translate the UAE Consensus into their next round of NDCs and domestic legislation and policies, including increasing the use of renewable energy and fossil-free transport and reducing the use of fossil fuels. While global agreements can send the right signals, the world’s fate will ultimately be determined by whether countries play their part in addressing the climate crisis.