COP28 High-level Recap — Youth4Nature

Written by Leonard Iyamuremye

As of late November 2023, governments, CSOs, youth, and children descended on Dubai for last year's twenty-eighth UN Conference of the Parties (COP28) on Climate Change by the UNFCCC. Various high-level and side events, key negotiations, and press conferences were held, while hosting more than 100 heads of state, delegations of 200 states, and over 85,000 participants from numerous pavilions showcasing climate action worldwide.

In this blog post, we will walk through some of the key topics and decisions taken during COP28!

*Photo: Kiara Worth | UN Climate Change*

So far, the bottom line decisions made upon COP28 are ways to operationalize a loss and damage fund for the vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters. Now the conference is wrapped up, in that regard, we are happy to tell you the key highlights and outcomes from UAE-DUBAI COP28.

During the opening remarks, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 president, committed to “running an inclusive and transparent process, one that encourages open discussion between all parties.” He added that many companies have 2050 net-zero goals and that the COP presidency will work closely with high-emitting sectors, including heavy transportation, aluminum, steel, and cement, to accelerate decarbonisation at scale.

Key Negotiation Topics & Discussions

Loss and Damage Finance

During COP28, participating countries agreed on the operationalisation of the loss and damage fund. The deal means that wealthy countries and large polluters would contribute a $700 million agreement towards the Loss and Damage Fund pledged within the first days of COP28. However, this amount is far less than what is required for those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, in particular SIDS, LDCs, and developing nations

Emissions reduction and fossil fuels agreement

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged for a phase-out of fossil fuels within a timescale consistent with a 1.5-degree scenario, as well as a just and equitable transition to renewables. A 1.5-degree scenario is about keeping Earth's temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It's a global goal in agreements like the Paris Agreement, where countries work together to reduce emissions and tackle climate change. The aim is to minimise the impacts by limiting the rise in temperature. Addressing fossil fuel representatives, he stated, "Your old road is fast aging. Do not double down on an outmoded company model. We must lead the transition to renewables.

Prof Adrian Smith, president of the Royal Society said: “It is now unambiguous that humans are warming the planet and causing Climate changes, water cycle, and oceans that threaten ecosystems and human life. “Achieving net zero by 2050 will require a huge transformation in the production and use of energy, away from fossil fuel dependence towards renewable and sustainable alternatives’’.

Kopano (Youth participant) Said; I think it is imperative that new strides not be taken whilst previous goals and commitments have still not been met as of yet. Perhaps (at the very least), the issue isn’t that we aren’t ambitious enough in our climate action agenda, but rather that, every year, we aim towards new and polished “north stars”, ultimately overriding previously agreed upon commitments and agreements that were set with a common goal in mind- to be better; to do better, not only for ourselves, but for our communities in suffocation, in drowning, and for those in burning.

One agreement was tabled at the conference. The final draft obtained a majority consensus among the 200 attending countries to include language to "transition away" from fossil fuels, which, according to the UN, account for over 90% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Although the passage of the first fossil fuel agreement is a victory, experts believe its contents are problematic. For example, Harjeet Singh, the head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International, told Al Jazeera. "The current terminology - 'transitioning away' - is somewhat ambiguous and allows for varying interpretations."

Climate Finance and resilience

Climate finance describes the cash and funds that back projects fighting climate change and adapting to climate. It funds initiatives like clean energy and sustainable agriculture to reduce carbon footprint. When it comes to commitments and outcomes from COP28 related to climate finance, the World Bank established the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership, a multi-donor trust fund that will raise an initial $250 million to assist poor countries in reducing carbon dioxide and methane emissions caused by the oil and gas industry. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) received a boost for its second replenishment at COP28, with six countries contributing extra funds, bringing the total pledges to a record USD 12.8 billion from 31 countries, with additional contributions expected. At COP 28, eight donor states announced fresh commitments to the Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund totaling more than USD 174 million. At the same time, the Adaptation Fund received new pledges totaling over USD 188 million.

Like some of the previous COPs, over 100 countries endorsed tripling reliance on renewable energy sources to reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels at this year's summit. However, experts say such goals are difficult given the financial pressures on developing nations.

Other controversies and highlights at COP28

Al-Jaber accused of denying climate science: The Abu Dhabi national oil and gas company chief hit out against what he said were “repeated attempts to undermine” his presidency. He said his questioning of climate science in a leaked video was “taken out of context with misrepresentation”. Jim Skea, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said al-Jaber “has been attentive to the science as we have discussed it and I think has fully understood it”.
OPEC pressures: OPEC issued a letter to its members on December 6 to “proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e. fossil fuels rather than emissions”. Saudi Arabia, the largest oil producer, is the de facto head of the 24-member country group. The secretariat also labeled campaigns against fossil fuels as “politically motivated”.
Protests on the sidelines: Although the UAE prohibits demonstrations, several groups held protests on the sidelines over issues, including the Israel-Gaza war and the holding of political prisoners in the UAE. In September, COP’s presidency agreed to allow “climate activists to assemble peacefully” at the summit.

In conclusion

While COP28 was an important milestone for concluding the first global stocktake, it shows that progress in all areas from climate action is too slow. We need urgent action for the survival of humanity and to ensure biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. Join us by staying connected and supporting our work. We need urgent actions for the survival of humanity, biodiversity, and ecosystem integrity.