In a bold and visionary move, the President-designate of COP28, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, revealed an ambitious plan focused on fast-tracking the energy transition, fixing climate finance, prioritizing people, and making inclusivity a hallmark of the upcoming summit. Addressing ministers from 26 nations at a climate meeting in Brussels, Dr Al Jaber emphasized the need for decisive action and game-changing results.
As The National reports, breaking away from the business-as-usual approach, Dr Al Jaber urged nations to challenge outdated models, break down silos hindering progress, and bridge the divides obstructing critical breakthroughs. This call for disruption and unity comes as the world gears up for the first-ever "global stocktake" in November to assess progress in limiting climate change.
#COP28 President-Designate #DrSultanAlJaber met with China’s Minister of Ecology & Environment, Huang Runqiu, in Brussels today, to discuss strengthening cooperation to deliver on #ClimateFinance and achieve an ambitious COP28 outcome. pic.twitter.com/XBXgHNoldN — COP28 UAE (@COP28_UAE) July 13, 2023
Key to Dr Al Jaber's plan is aligning emissions plans with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, which he referred to as the "north star" of COP28. Setting an earlier deadline of September 2023, Dr Al Jaber urged countries to update their emissions plans, surpassing the 2025 cutoff set by the Paris Agreement. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has already raised its own target for emissions cuts to an ambitious 40% this decade, up from the previous 31%.
Fast-tracking the energy transition: Under the pillar of fast-tracking the energy transition, Dr Al Jaber called on countries to expand clean power sources and increase energy efficiency. Emphasizing the importance of leveraging all available emission-busting tools, he highlighted the need for nuclear power and battery storage alongside renewable energy. Dr. Al Jaber has set forth a visionary agenda, aiming to triple renewable energy generation, double energy efficiency initiatives, and amplify hydrogen production to a staggering 180 million tonnes per annum by 2030. Additionally, he has called upon oil companies to strive for the elimination of methane emissions by that very same year, setting a remarkable standard of "zero out."
Fixing climate finance: The focus on climate finance reform reflects the urgent need for a comprehensive transformation of the global financial system. Dr Al Jaber underscored the inadequacy of the current system, citing issues related to accessibility, affordability, and availability of finance. He called for a doubling of funding for adaptation by 2025 and stressed the necessity of meeting the long-delayed commitment by wealthy nations to provide $100 billion annually for climate funding in the developing world. Additionally, plans are underway to establish a global fund to address climate loss and damage, expected to be activated soon after COP28.
Focusing on people: The third pillar of the COP28 plan centers around lives and livelihoods, adopting a human-centered approach that focuses on nature, food, health, and resilience. This emphasis on health marks a significant milestone, as COP28 will be the first UN climate conference to dedicate daily discussions to the topic, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and several nations. Recognizing the interdependence between climate action and food systems, Dr Al Jaber highlighted the need to transform threatened food systems, making them an integral part of national emissions plans.
Making inclusivity a hallmark: Inclusivity forms the fourth and essential pillar of COP28. Dr. Al Jaber stressed that addressing climate change requires engaging every person, every generation, and every corner of society. The UAE presidency is committed to ensuring full inclusivity, as demonstrated by the largest youth climate delegate program and the inclusion of a pavilion dedicated to indigenous people. By tapping into the concerns and wisdom of indigenous groups, who safeguard a significant portion of the world's biodiversity, COP28 aims to foster an inclusive and diverse dialogue.
Climate diplomacy expert Alex Scott praised Dr Al Jaber's plan, commending its recognition of the critical task at hand and the invitation for broader stakeholder involvement. With record-breaking temperatures occurring worldwide, the urgency for action is clear. Canada and Germany are spearheading efforts to finally meet the $100 billion annual climate funding commitment, initially pledged in 2009.
Frans Timmermans, the EU's leading official on climate change, emphasized that COP28 holds the potential to surpass previous conferences and chart a path forward that inspires hope rather than despair.
The 🇪🇺🇨🇳🇨🇦 Ministerial on #ClimateAction is a key moment on the road to the annual @UNFCCC climate conference.
I'm pleased that Dr Sultan Al Jaber chose to set out his agenda for #COP28 here today. Let's work together for a successful outcome in Dubai!
▶️https://t.co/d0AsEWMqAJ — Frans Timmermans (@TimmermansEU) July 13, 2023
As COP28 approaches, all eyes turn to Dubai, where global leaders will converge to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable future. The success of COP28 ultimately rests on the commitment and solidarity of nations, as they put the interests of humanity above all else.
Also Read: COP28: A chance to save the oceans and the climate, says UN official
