The 28th session of the Conference of Parties, COP28, of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has commenced in Dubai, with a resounding call to expedite collective climate action. This pivotal gathering, which commenced on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates, comes at a time when climate scientists have designated this year as the hottest ever recorded in human history.
Undoubtedly, the impacts of the climate crisis have delivered unprecedented devastation to human life and livelihoods globally, as remarked by experts. The conference is graced by over 160 world leaders, among whom is the distinguished presence of President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria. Scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, the assembly is poised to witness pivotal deliberations and decisive action on climate commitments aimed at averting further perils brought about by the climate emergency.
The UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, emphatically stressed the imperative for global leaders to convey a compelling message that will foster deeper cooperation and concerted actions to reverse the adverse impacts of climate change. He emphasized, “COP28 cannot be just a photo-op. Leaders must deliver – the message is clear.” It is imperative for the leaders to articulate a resolute stance and imperative actions to drive effective climate policies and make substantive progress.
The 2023 COP marks the conclusion of the “global stocktake”, a significant milestone representing the initial assessment of the global strides in implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement. The assessment, though sobering, reveals that the world is currently falling short in efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C by the close of the century. However, it acknowledges the ongoing development of plans for a net-zero future and the accelerating transition to clean energy.
However, the report unequivocally indicates that the pace of transition is far from adequate to confine global warming within the current aspirations. A recent report published by UN Climate Change illuminates that national climate action plans would collectively result in a mere 2 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below the 2019 levels by 2030, whereas a substantial 43 per cent reduction is imperative.
Emphasizing the essence of financial support for developing countries, Mr Stiell stressed, “The reality is that without much more finance flowing to developing countries, a renewables revolution will remain a mirage in the desert. COP28 must turn it into a reality.” Climate financing remains pivotal in the anticipated transformations, with the replenishment of the Green Climate Fund, doubling of financial resources for adaptation, and the operationalization of the loss and damage fund constituting critical steps to maintain the viability of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber of the UAE, the esteemed COP28 president, asserted the urgent need for concerted efforts to curtail carbon emissions, emphasizing, “There is no time to waste.” He further articulated that during the conference, “every country and every company will be held to account, guided by the north star of keeping 1.5°C within reach.”
Similarly, Egypt’s Foreign Minister and COP27 President, Sameh Shoukry, underscored the necessity of building on previous achievements and, most critically, implementing the previously agreed-upon resolutions. Stressing the significance of inclusivity, particularly of the Global South, he emphasized the imperative to commence the delivery of climate justice and provide the essential tools agreed upon in Sharm el-Sheikh, specifically funding for loss and damage, including the operationalization and funding of a dedicated fund.
As the COP28 unfolds, it stands as an exceptional opportunity for global leaders to craft decisions that uphold high ambitions in response to the global stocktake. This entails substantial reductions in emissions while safeguarding the welfare of individuals, lives, and livelihoods. The anticipated outcomes from this pivotal assembly hold immense promise for operationalized resolutions and funded initiatives that will significantly mitigate the adverse impacts of the climate crisis.
