COP28 serves as a crucial platform to assess global efforts to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within reach.- Photo by Lauren Duvel
IN the bustling halls of Expo City Dubai, the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place from Nov 30 to Dec 12, 2023.
Over 70,000 delegates representing world leaders, young people, climate scientists, indigenous peoples, journalists, and various other experts and stakeholders, gather with a shared purpose: to agree on ways to address the climate crisis.
This year, more than any other, the COP is critical. In order to influence change, it had to be a climate-credible COP, and the agreements reached must be in line with the urgency of the climate issue and the scope of measures required to address it.
This meeting served as a crucial platform for negotiating and implementing global strategies,especially in assessing global efforts to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within reach.
No more than 1.5°C
“Global warming” refers to the long-term rise in Earth’s average temperature caused primarily by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas, and deforestation.
“Pre-industrial” refers to the period before mankind began to rely heavily on fossil fuels or before the Industrial Revolution, roughly before 1750.
The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels means keeping the average temperature of the Earth from exceeding 1.5°C higher than the average temperature before the Industrial Revolution began.
This goal is crucial to avoid far worse impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to food and water security. (See UN graph which illustrates why it’s so important to maintain 1.5°C, which can be considered as the least terrifying scenario for our survivability.)
First Global Stocktake
COP28 marked the first Global Stocktake, which means an assessment of global progress towards achieving the Paris Agreement goals.
As the world experiences record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events, it is essential that we emphasise the need for immediate course correction.
During the start of the COP28 closing plenary, the improved Global Stocktake draft text was adopted with no objections to transition away from fossil fuels.
The Global Stocktake must pave the way for stronger Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to achieve the 1.5°C target.
Global Goal on Adaptation
The world is in crisis, with extreme weather events wreaking havoc on communities across the globe.
Adaptation stands as a crucial response, building climate resilience and reducing vulnerabilities.
The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) was established under the Paris Agreement to serve as a unifying framework to drive political action and finance for adaptation on the same scale as mitigation.
However, despite its potential, progress towards the GGA has been limited, likely due to the complexities and context-specific challenges faced by developing countries.
COP28 presented a crucial opportunity to establish an effective GGA framework to guide national adaptation efforts; however the negotiation outcome yielded no concrete progress as parties were unable to agree on quantitative targets and indicators, postponing the decision through a two-year process.
Loss and Damage Fund
The creation of the Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund at COP27 is deemed a positive step to help channel funds to developing countries impacted by negative effects of climate change that occur despite mitigation and adaptation efforts.
COP28 saw historic progress on this front, with pledges totaling around US$700mil to L&D Fund, and countries that have pledged include the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, and United Arab Emirates.
As every fraction of a degree of warming pushes communities beyond their adaptation limits, causing irreversible damage, especially for vulnerable countries, its people and nature, the L&D Fund can be considered an important instrument for climate justice to assist communities, particularly those in the Global South.
Consensus at COP28
The issues negotiated at COP28 were complex, with countries holding diverse priorities and interests. Achieving consensus on crucial matters such as the fossil fuel phase-out, Global Stocktake assessment, GGA and L&D proved challenging.
The landmark COP28 meeting in Dubai has just concluded, marking an unprecedented moment in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The global stocktake adoption sets the stage for the next round of NDCs, and the decision to transition away from fossil fuels stands out as a significant milestone.
This outcome is a pivotal moment in global climate action, signalling the beginning of the end for the fossil fuel era after three decades of UN climate negotiations.
Beyond the negotiations, non-party actors at COP28 highlighted various issues, concepts and initiatives.
Collaborative action
Contributing to the effort to address climate change impacts in South-East Asia, the Southeast Asia Climate Adaptation and Resilience (SEACAR) Alliance was launched at COP28 by WWF, Think City and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
South-East Asia is home to more than 673.3 million people and houses some of the world’s most biodiverse and vulnerable ecosystems.
Unfortunately, there is still no clear narrative on the challenges faced by this critical region.
Coordinated efforts are therefore crucial to accelerate adaptation and resilience.
The SEACAR Alliance does this by highlighting the combined potential of nature and artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing climate risks at cityscale, as well as by emphasising the importance of nature-based solutions (NbS).
Collaborative action like this across all segments of society is necessary to accelerate solutions in addressing climate change.
Our common future on our one home, Planet Earth, depends on it.
