Tomorrow, November 30, 2023, the 28th Convening of the Parties of the United Nations or COP-28 begins in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The conference concludes on December 12, 2023.
Scientists warn that the climate crisis is accelerating at a much faster pace than anticipated and that the global commitments made as part of the Paris Agreement are not sufficient to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Countries must cut global greenhouse gas emissions faster, including a reduction of 50% in this decade. Yes, the 2030s.
At COP 26 in Glasgow, countries agreed to report on their plans to reduce their nationally determined contributions annually.
Here are the major focus areas of these global discussions:
The 2015 Paris agreement commitments will not achieve net zero and we must accelerate climate action.
COP 28 will focus on:
rapid acceleration to clean energy to cut greenhouse gas emissions before 2030
providing financial support for climate action from richer to poorer countries
supporting nature-based solutions
highlight food, health (including mental health), and finance
There will be heated debates about a , “phase out “of coal vs. “phase down," especially given that the head of the UAE state-owned fossil fuel company is the president of the COP 28 talks.
The global community will operationalize the Paris plan to create a $100bn in financing for climate adaptation, including the “loss and damage” fund for poorer countries that was agreed to at COP 27.
Be sure to watch the talks and the controversy around having the negotiations in the UAE, one of the top 10 oil producing countries in the world.
We'll be watching the conversation about the impacts of the climate crisis on mental health and how eco-anxiety plays a role in climate justice and financial support for the Global South to make the transition to the green economy.
Despite the criticisms of "green washing," these global commitments have created a sense of urgency for climate action.
But will it be enough?
OneGreenThing will be following the discussions and report back as the COP-28 continues. We are at a pivotal moment.
We can be the awesome ancestors our future loved ones deserve, but only if we act globally for this critical transition to clean energy with equity and justice at the center.
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