By: Oforiwa Darko
COP28, the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, opened at the Expo City of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, November 30, 2023.
The annual climate summit in Dubai this year, is expected to focus on fast-tracking the move to clean energy sources to cut greenhouse gas emissions before 2030. It would also focus on pushing the goal of limiting long term global temperature rises to 1.5 degree Celsius.
Dubai is hosting dozens of world leaders and over 70,000 attendees, including Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo, other leaders from the African Continents, Prince of Wales, King Charles III and the US Vice President Kamala Harris.
In his Pre-COP address, COP28 President-Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber called for unity, action and multilateralism.
“This year’s COP is expected to discuss how to limit and prepare for future climate change”.
Addressing a media briefing, Dr Sultan was clear the world needs to do more and seize the opportunity of COP28 to take action and keep 1.5 within reach. Dr Al Jaber also rejected reports over the past few days that suggested the UAE was planning to advance oil and gas deals at the summit.
According to the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, Climate finance stands at the heart of this transformation, therefore replenishing the Green Climate Fund, doubling financial resources for adaptation and operationalizing the loss and damage fund are key to keeping 1.5°C within reach while leaving no one behind.
“And as leaders leave Dubai after the opening summit, their message to their negotiators must be equally clear, don’t come home without a deal that will make a real difference.”
“The reality is that without much more finance flowing to developing countries, a renewables revolution will remain a mirage in the desert. COP28 must turn it into a reality,” Stiell further added.
The host, UAE is also expected to announce a commitment from major oil and gas companies to reduce methane leakage. This year, parties are also expected to assess how far off track the world is from a goal set in the Paris Agreement 2015 to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
