The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023. COP 28 is a crucial moment for the world to come together and agree on ways to address the climate crisis, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050¹.
COP 28 is expected to attract more than 70,000 delegates, including representatives from 195 member states of the UNFCCC, as well as business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and various other experts and stakeholders². The conference will also feature a number of side events, exhibitions, and initiatives to showcase the diverse and innovative actions that are being taken to combat climate change around the world³.
One of the main objectives of COP 28 is to finalize the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, which was adopted at COP 21 in 2015 and entered into force in 2016. The Paris Agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius⁴. The Agreement also sets out a framework for countries to submit their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which are their plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change⁴.
Another key outcome of COP 28 is the completion of the first-ever global stocktake, which is a process for countries and stakeholders to assess the collective progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. The global stocktake will provide a comprehensive and transparent overview of the current state of the climate, the actions taken so far, and the gaps and opportunities for further action. The global stocktake will also inform the preparation of the next round of NDCs, which are due by 2025 and are expected to be more ambitious and aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius target⁵.
In addition to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the global stocktake, COP 28 will also address several other important issues, such as:
- The establishment of a loss and damage finance facility to help vulnerable communities cope with the immediate and irreversible impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, sea level rise, and biodiversity loss⁶.
- The mobilization of climate finance to support developing countries in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and the achievement of the global goal of mobilizing $100 billion per year by 2020 and beyond⁷.
- The acceleration of the energy transition and the promotion of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and low-carbon technologies, as well as the phasing out of fossil fuels and the support for a just transition for workers and communities affected by the shift to a green economy⁸.
- The enhancement of the role of nature-based solutions, such as forest conservation and restoration, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem management, in reducing emissions, enhancing resilience, and delivering multiple co-benefits for people and the planet.
COP 28 is a critical opportunity for the world to demonstrate its commitment and leadership in tackling the climate crisis, which is the defining challenge of our time. The decisions and actions taken at COP 28 will have lasting implications for the future of humanity and the health of the Earth. As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, "We are in a decisive decade for climate action. The stakes could not be higher. The future of humanity and the health of the planet are in your hands."
