COP28 in UAE: What is it, outcomes and impacts
Climate change is one of the biggest global crises to exist in our lifetimes. Over the last century, we have seen many indicators that pointed toward a deteriorating planet as a direct result of climate change. Since 1880, the earth’s temperature has risen by an average of 0.14° Fahrenheit (0.08° Celsius) per decade. This has translated to around a 2-degree Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) increase in global average surface temperature since pre-industrial times. While this might seem insignificant at first glance, we need to remember that it takes a massive amount of heat energy to raise the plant’s average temperature to such levels. And with the increased temperature came an immense number of issues that need to be addressed.
To facilitate conversations, international cooperation, and concentrated efforts on climate action, The Conference of the Parties (COP), the main decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) started convening in the mid-1990s. Today, COP brings together the 198 Parties, which includes 197 nations plus the European Union, which have signed on to the Framework Convention.
This year, the COP28 climate conference hosted by the UAE, ended on the 13th of December 2023. After reviewing the first Global Stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement, the participating countries have agreed on the plan called the UAE Consensus. This year’s COP ended with the recognition that even though there has been progress in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement, the world is still not on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough.
In this article, we will talk more about COP28, its outcome, and its potential impact.
COP28 UAE: What was the significance?
The COP28 UAE was held from the 30th of November to the 12th of December at Expo City Dubai, setting a milestone moment for the world to unite, act, and deliver tangible climate action. For the UAE, COP28 presented a tremendous opportunity to showcase the country’s climate action and sustainability efforts and prepare the stage for important conversations on the existing issues.
Since the country’s formation in 1971, the UAE has been backing global-level initiatives to address climate issues. As an arid country with severe water scarcity and hot, humid weather conditions, the UAE has always been climate-vulnerable and needed a strategy in place to tackle climatic issues. Over the years, the country has been a pioneer in energy transition and sustainability in the region, expanding and diversifying its economy. Today, the UAE is also considered a leader, creating initiatives and employment opportunities among the youth, with a strong focus on sustainability and offering real-world solutions to combat climate change.
Aligning with UNFCCC’s ideals, the UAE became the first Middle Eastern government to take the pledge to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. The country was also the first in the region to sign the Paris Agreement on 21 September 2016. Since then, the country has formally invested around $50 billion into clean energy internationally and an additional $50 billion was promised by 2030. Additionally, the UAE agreed to partner with the United States to invest $100 billion in clean energy, back in November 2022.
With all that said and done, the country has already set a course for a sustainable future in the years to come. By hosting COP28, the UAE also achieved collaboration across governments, industries, civil society, and various sectors of the economy.
COP28 UAE was one of the biggest and most anticipated international events in 2023, with Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as the president. As a gathering that is focused on climate action and decision-making, the COP28 UAE hosted over 70,000 delegates including heads of state and world leaders. Over the course of the event, COP28 managed to establish agreements and promote advancements in climate action among participants, representatives, and numerous non-governmental organizations, businesses, youth groups, and other involved parties.
Key Takeaways
The UAE Consensus primarily took note of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest report highlighting the urgent need for emissions reductions, urging Parties to shift to net zero from fossil fuels. The Consensus also encourages them to submit comprehensive emission reduction plans, sets a goal to triple renewables and double energy efficiency by 2030, and seeks to propel progress in reshaping climate finance.
Let’s take a look at some of the key takeaways from COP28 UAE-
- At the end of the conference, the Parties reached an agreement on the first Global Stocktake (GST) despite earlier disagreements. The results show that global efforts are far from meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement, as highlighted in scientific findings on climate change impacts and gaps in responses. The decision emphasizes a fair shift from fossil fuels to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and urges Parties to submit ambitious emission reduction targets in their next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- In an early and crucial decision at the conference, the Parties agreed to activate the Loss and Damage Fund. Concerning the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, it was decided that the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) will host the Network as a dedicated secretariat.
- On climate adaptation, the Parties adopted a framework for the GGA (Global Goal on Adaptation) to guide global efforts and support adaptation in developing countries. The framework sets four 2030 targets related to climate change risk assessments, planning, implementation, and monitoring. It also includes goals such as reducing climate-induced water scarcity and enhancing resilience to water-related hazards.
- At the conference, Parties were unable to agree on advancing markets under Articles 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Agreement. While this doesn’t prevent bilateral cooperation under Article 6.2 (some agreements were made), it introduces uncertainty about transparency, reporting, and authorization processes. The lack of agreement on methodologies for Article 6.4 means the crediting mechanism won’t be operational for at least another year. Despite this setback, political and business leaders at COP28 backed carbon markets as a key source of climate finance. Voluntary standards also collaborated to enhance integrity and accountability in the voluntary market, aiming to stabilize a volatile year for the carbon markets.
The GST decision stands out as the biggest achievement of the conference, influencing countries’ approaches to their 2025 NDCs. Despite being hailed as ‘historic’ by COP28 leaders like the US, Germany, and Denmark, some states, including the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), voiced disappointment, citing a lack of essential ‘course correction’ and commitment to ‘phasing out’ fossil fuels. AOSIS was notably absent from the plenary room during the decision announcement, and their concerns will be included in the final decision.
Given the present circumstances, it’s still worrying that 2023 is projected to be the hottest year ever recorded, with accelerating climate change impacts. It emphasizes the urgency for immediate action and assistance to achieve the 1.5 °C goal and tackle the climate crisis within this decade.
Decisions and Implications
Based on the outcomes of the conference, here are some of the potential actions and impacts we can expect from the Parties in the next few years.
- To translate the decisions taken at COP28 into action, countries must integrate robust targets into their upcoming NDCs in 2025. One of the crucial challenges along the way is securing increased financial support for developing nations to facilitate the energy transition.
- Party nations must also make more substantial commitments to support climate-vulnerable communities and explore innovative funding sources like taxes on fossil fuels and shipping. Additionally, they should allocate funds for the Santiago Network and include comprehensive sections on loss and damage in their upcoming NDCs, complete with cost estimates for predictable and sufficient climate financing.
- To strengthen the new framework, negotiators set up a two-year work program to develop indicators for tracking progress toward the goal’s main targets. While the framework offers a chance to address gaps in future Global Stocktakes, the absence of a clear roadmap for increasing adaptation finance, particularly the goal to double it by 2025, lacks certain accountability. These financial issues, including those related to adaptation, must be addressed at COP29.
- Nations now have an opportunity to include ambitious measures for methane in their forthcoming 2025 NDCs, covering both overall emission objectives and specific targets for reducing methane.
- In 2024, governments worldwide will initiate the preparation of their next set of NDCs. COP28 urges the UN to organize global and regional workshops, along with capacity-building sessions to assist them. In response to this, the UN Secretary-General will host a special event for countries to submit their new commitments in 2025.
In essence, the biggest win of COP28 was that for the first time, all nations have formally agreed to transition away from fossil fuels and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, with an increased focus on cities and food systems in the climate battle.
World nations must not focus on crucial tasks that translate COP28 goals into national action and securing the necessary financing. These commitments must be viewed as a starting point, not the endpoint, in the fight against climate change. Climate-vulnerable communities and countries, including the UAE, have to be treated fairly moving forward.
Conclusion
It is the responsibility of nations to implement the UAE Consensus in their next set of NDCs and through transformative domestic legislation and policies. This ideally includes promoting renewables, fossil-free transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels at every opportunity. The UAE’s existing sustainability initiatives and climate framework are already aligned with these goals, helping set a precedent in the MENA region.
While global agreements provide signals, our planet’s destiny hinges on whether countries fulfill their role in addressing the climate crisis. An action-driven future is a hopeful one.
Sources:
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-temperature
https://www.wri.org/insights/cop28-outcomes-next-steps
