Understanding COP28: “Dubai 2023 Conference At A Glance”

From David Onuoja, Abuja

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: United Nation (UN) Climate Conference is a Government-level large-scale annual gathering, focused on climate action. This is referred to as COP – Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The UNFCCC convention entered into force on 21 March 1994 to prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system.

The Agreement was ratified by 198 countries, it also has near-universal membership. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, works as an extension of that convention.

Over 60,000 people are to attend thw COP28, including delegates from Nigeria and other member states of the UNFCCC, industry leaders, innovation champions, youth activists, representatives of indigenous communities, journalists, and other stakeholders.

It is a critical moment for global climate action. COP28 will provide the world with a reality check, a culmination of a process called ”Global Stocktake” – on how far the world has come in tackling the climate crisis and how much of a course correction is needed.

Why is the COP28 conference important? Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement on climate change at COP21 in 2015, subsequent conferences have revolved around implementing its key goal: halt global average temperature rise to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit the rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

If Paris gave us the agreement, Katowice (COP24) and Glasgow (COP26) showed us the plan. Sharm el-Sheikh (COP27) then shifted us to implementation.
Now, COP28 is expected to be a turning point, where countries not only agree on ‘WHAT’ stronger climate actions will be taken, but show ‘HOW’ to deliver them.

Measuring the progress towards achieving the Paris goals on mitigation, adaptation and climate finance and adapting existing plans is a key part of the puzzle, and this is why COP28 assumes more significance. The first global stocktake, which began at COP26 in Glasgow, will conclude in Dubai.

The process is designed to help identify what more still needs to be done and guide countries towards more ambitious and accelerated climate action plans.
So, the decision adopted by the parties at COP28 could emerge as the most consequential outcome following the 2015 Paris conference.

Strategic issues; Quite literally, the health of our planet and humanity’s well-being is at stake. “Antarctica has been called the sleeping giant, but it is now being awoken by climate chaos,” UN Secretary General António Guterres warned during his visit there ahead of COP28. Antarctic sea ice is at an all-time low. New figures show that this September, 2023, it was 1.5 million square kilometers smaller than the average for the time of year – “an area roughly the size of Portugal, Spain, France and Germany combined”.

“All of this spells catastrophe around the world,” he said. “What happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica. And what happens thousands of miles away has a direct impact right here”.
Over a century of fossil fuels burning and unsustainable energy and land use has already led to a global warming of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. Every increment of warming is likely to exacerbate the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding, storms and irreversible climate changes.

2023 is on track to be the hottest year, while the past eight years were the eight warmest on record globally, fuelled by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and accumulated heat.
Mr. Guterres has sounded the alarm on several occasions with the warning that if nothing changes, we are heading towards a 3°C temperature rise – towards a dangerous and unstable world.

“Humanity has opened the gates of hell. Horrendous heat is having horrendous effect,” he said. Almost half of the world’s population lives in regions highly vulnerable to climate change.

The least developed, landlocked and small island countries may have contributed little to this crisis, but they are the ones on the frontlines, having to deal with its deadly consequences.

The intersection therefore is that: The UN’s 28th Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties called (COP28) will run from 30th November – 12th December 2023 at Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The conference will also set the course for the future of the green economy.

According to the United Nations (UN), “climate change is the defining crisis of our time and it is happening even more quickly than we feared”. Therefore, it is no surprise that COP28 is set to be one of the largest and most important international gatherings of 2023, with over 70,000 delegates expected to attend, including heads of state and leaders from around the world.

Since the inception of the Agreement at COP21 in Paris in the year 2015, UN member countries have been committed to keeping average global temperature rises around 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels and strengthening the world’s ability to adapt to the effects of climate change.

COP28 will equally present an opportunity to achieve further progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. The COP28 agenda will also be focused on four additional ‘paradigm shifts’. 1. Fast tracking the energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030- aiming at actions to significantly reduce emissions, implementation of carbon market and non-market approaches to attract investments, and
ensuring a faster transition towards a fossil-free energy system.

2. Deliver old promises and set the framework for a new deal on finance. Urging leaders/countries to fund the Green Climate Fund, double adaptation finance by 2025, and scaleup adaptation efforts
3. Put nature, people, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action, addressing the impacts of climate change by prioritising adaptation, enhancing adaptation finance and ensuring support for those facing severe climate impacts. Aiming to promote efforts on nature, food, health, water, and relief, and champions conservation and adaptation, highlighting the roles of women and indigenous peoples, while addressing climate-related humanitarian and security challenges.

As we eagerly await the results of the COP28 summit, we note with great concerns the non participation of Key IP Agencies and Stakeholders in COP 28 despite the numerous IP and IP related issues on the table in its agenda so that world over will be a better place for living.