NoIt hasn’t started yet and is already at the center of controversy over the choice of location. There Cop28, the annual United Nations climate change summit, it is in fact held in the United Arab Emirates, i.e. in seventh oil producing country and among the main exporters of hydrocarbons in the world. In the opinion of many, a real contradiction with respect to the objectives that the event sets itself.
COP28 in Dubai and the climate is getting worse
What begins today in Dubai and which for many is the last chance to reverse the trend on emissions, will see the participation of 195 countries. They will be asked to declare what progress they have made with their climate plans compared to the objectives set in 2015 by the Paris Agreement. This is the so-called GST, the “Global Stocktake”, the first account of the impact of climate actions taken by UNFCC member countries, which also includes a verification of their validity to achieve the objectives.
Global Stocktake: verification of what has been done
Definitely a negative check, given that in 2022, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached record levels and which will prevent, experts say, from reaching the objective of the Paris Agreement of keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees from pre-industrial levels (in truth, the limit has already been exceeded in some days of November 2023).
On the contrary, it will reiterate that we are running fast towards an increase in temperatures of almost three degrees Celsius by the end of the century, which will cause a series of disastrous consequences for the planet, with extreme weather events. As is already happening in many parts of the world. Faced with this scenario, countries will have to improve and redefine the strategies to be put into practice to guarantee greater results. The direction that countries’ climate action will take in the coming years therefore depends on the outcome of the Global Stocktake.
COP28 on climate begins in Dubai. (Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg)
America and China must make the change
«At COP28, leaders must interrupt this cycle – warned the United Nations secretary general, Antonio Guterres, adding – After all, the solutions are well known to everyone». The special envoys of the USA, John Kerry, and China, Xie Zhenhua, could bring about a turning point for the success of COP28, also because together China and the United States are the largest producers of greenhouse gases, adding up to 40%. And everyone knows that without the action of the two superpowers, this battle will not be won.
Because Cops seem useless
Since these events are an update of a slow negotiation that has been going on for almost thirty years to bring together almost two hundred countries with various and different interests, very often COPs give the strong impression of never having actual consequences. And partly it is a correct feeling. They remain, however, the only context in which the international community as a whole deals with this crisis and this is a fact to which its importance must be given.
What will we talk about
The three main themes of Cop28 will be: how and when to reduce the use of fossil fuels, an assessment of what has been done so far and the establishment of the “Loss&damage” fund to help and restore the poorest and developing countries from the damage and losses suffered due to climate change.
What is the Loss&damage fund
Last month, at a meeting in Abu Dhabi, an agreement was finalized on the characteristics that this compensation fund should have, but during the meeting in Dubai it will almost certainly undergo changes because not all countries are satisfied with it. In short, waiting to see what will come out at the end of this latest summitall that remains is to carefully follow these days which will continue until December 2nd, hoping that at least this Cop conclude with some real good news, that is, less theoretical and more substantive.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED