COP28: The World Watches as Leaders Convene for Climate Change Milestone

Posted on Nov 23, 2023 at 10:11 PM

 Amidst a backdrop of escalating global crises, Deputy-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group Amina Mohamed has issued a clarion call for decisive action at the upcoming UN climate summit. With the United Arab Emirates set to host the pivotal conference, Ms Mohamed underscores the immediacy of this gathering, positioning it as a critical juncture in the global climate change narrative.

As nations prepare to convene in Abu Dhabi for the 28th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), known as COP28, the focus sharpens on the Global Stocktake—the summit's central agenda item. This critical evaluation aims to assess scientific findings and pinpoint areas where loss, mitigation, and adaptation have fallen short. The Global Stocktake, a term coined for the UN's year-long review sessions, gauges the progress of nations in fulfilling the 2015 Paris Agreement's goals.

With COP28 on the horizon, set to take place from November 30th to December 12th, preparatory efforts are intensifying. The Pre-COP meeting in Abu Dhabi, serving as the last ministerial congregation before the main event, is a procedural formality and a significant opportunity for global leaders to forge a cohesive response to climate challenges.

In essence, the Pre-COP meeting in Abu Dhabi has fulfilled its procedural role and emerged as a vital catalyst for shaping the narrative of COP28. It has set the stage for substantive negotiations, encouraging collaboration and commitment among global leaders as they prepare to make impactful decisions in the face of the escalating climate crisis.

Adding to the Pre-COP's momentum, a joint report released by the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA), the COP28 Presidency, and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) advocates a bold vision: "Tripling Renewable Power and Doubling Energy Efficiency by 2030." This ambitious roadmap lays out actionable policy recommendations for governments and private entities to elevate global renewable energy capacity to at least 11,000 GW.

In alignment with this vision, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, echoes this sentiment, stressing the pivotal role of renewable energy and energy efficiency in curbing greenhouse gas emissions. His call to action is clear: unite, set shared targets, and embark on comprehensive domestic and international measures to bring these ambitions to fruition.

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, recognises the challenging times for multilateral cooperation. "It is a difficult and yet critical time for multilateral engagement and a time of anxiety," he remarked, urging unity in the face of climate change—a universal challenge requiring collective solutions.

As the world grapples with record temperatures and natural disasters, the impending COP28 emerges as a vital platform for world leaders. It presents an opportunity for dialogue and decisive action that could steer the planet towards a more sustainable trajectory, away from the precipice of climate calamity.

Finally, the UAE is determined that world leaders will be more determined on this 28th. Meeting to arrive at concrete and binding results as time is running out to achieve the Planet sustainability goals agreed upon in the seminal Paris Agreement

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