The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28)
Overview:
In this critical moment for climate action, the UAE is seeking to unite the world to act together and deliver actionable solutions to the climate crisis.
COP28 UAE represents a landmark moment as the world collectively assesses its progress in combating climate change. The Global Stocktake will set out a comprehensive and efficient response to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, showing what we have accomplished so far, and how we can close existing gaps to achieve our goals.
COP28 must deliver a robust response with a strong mitigation outcome, a comprehensive adaptation agreement, and ground-breaking solutions on finance. This will be a crucial part of the international community’s efforts to deliver ambitious and pragmatic action that keeps the 1.5°C temperature goal within reach and leaves nobody behind.
The Event:
When: 30 November – 12 December, 2023
Where: Expo City Dubai
The COP28 Presidency has developed its Action Plan with four key pillars: fast-tracking an organized, responsible, and equitable energy transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on people, nature, lives and livelihoods, and fostering full inclusivity.
The COP28 Presidency has also prepared a two-week thematic program covering key climate priorities and subtopics. Each day will be underpinned by four cross-cutting themes of finance, technology and innovation, inclusion, and frontline communities.
COP28 Leadership:
- His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, is the COP28 President, while HE Shamma Al Mazrui is UAE Youth Climate Champion, and HE Razan Al Mubarak is the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion.
COP28 UAE Presidency Goals:
- Highlighting the importance of delivering ambitious and achievable action that keeps 1.5°C within reach and leaves nobody behind.
- Uniting efforts from all 198 parties to raise our collective aspirations with a robust, negotiated response to the first Global Stocktake.
- Delivering non-negotiated outcomes across the four pillars of the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda that reflect climate action.
Key Objectives:
- Fast tracking a just and orderly energy transition: We must rapidly build the energy system of tomorrow, free of unabated fossil fuels, while comprehensively decarbonizing energies we use today, and tackle both energy supply and demand at the same time.
- Fixing climate finance: We need to rebuild trust by delivering on historic pledges, and must reform the architecture of the global financial system to ensure that both public and private capital delivers on our climate objectives.
- Focusing on people, nature, lives and livelihoods: Climate change will affect us even if we meet the goals and ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement. People and the planet must therefore be at the heart of the climate process. The international community needs to put in place critical enablers, particularly finance, and then take an “all of the above” approach that leaves nobody behind and elevates previously neglected topics up the climate agenda, such as health and other topics that were not part of past COP meeting agendas.
- Fostering full inclusivity: The COP28 Presidency believes that no single party can offer efficient solutions to avoid the impacts of climate change and that success depends on collaborative contributions from every country, every community, and every citizen.
UAE's Climate Commitment:
Being based in a region where heat is extreme, water is scarce, and food systems are weak, the UAE has a clear sense of what is at stake in climate action.
Accordingly, the country has been an early adopter of climate agreements, announcing in 2021 a strategic initiative to achieve Net Zero by 2050 and plans to invest USD 163 billion over the course of 30 years.
The UAE continues to build on its strong record of climate innovation, publishing this year a third update to its Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that includes a 40 per cent emissions cut compared to business-as-usual.
The UAE also has extensive experience in the energy sector, both as a world-leading investor in renewable energy and as an expert in decarbonizing energy systems.
Having already invested USD 50 billion in renewable energy in 70 countries, the UAE has pledged to invest over USD 50 billion at home and abroad over the next decade.
As a center for energy and industry, a global crossroads for commerce, business, and tourism, and an important hub for logistics, transportation, and technology, the UAE is uniquely positioned to build bridges and foster consensus to accelerate inclusive climate progress.
Energy Transition and Climate Urgency:
To keep 1.5°C within reach, the scientific data tells us that we need to take urgent action by 2030 to reduce emissions.
To hit these 2030 targets, the world needs to undertake urgent and decisive action at COP28.
COP28 Action Plan:
First: Fast-tracking an organized, responsible, and equitable energy transition
- Tripling global renewable energy production capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
- Dramatically scaling up low-carbon hydrogen.
- Ending approvals for new unabated coal plants and shutting down existing plants early.
- Zeroing out methane emissions for the oil and gas industry by 2030 and hit Net Zero by 2050.
- Addressing supply and demand sides in the energy sector by reducing emissions in heavy-emitting sectors.
Second: Fixing climate finance:
- Delivering on the commitment to mobilize USD 100 billion per year in climate finance to the developing world.
- Replenishing the Green Climate Fund.
- Operationalizing the Loss and Damage fund and providing early pledges at COP28.
- Reforming the architecture of the global financing system to expand concessional funds, lower risks, and attract private capital at a multiple. The world will also need to unlock the power of Carbon Markets and Green Capital Markets by ensuring high integrity standards.
Third: Focusing on Protecting People and Nature, and improving Lives and Livelihoods:
- Adopting a robust framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation that includes clear and ambitious targets.
- Elevate food, water, and health into the climate agenda.
- Mobilize finance to protect forests, mangroves, land, and oceans.
- Leave no one behind and support vulnerable communities.
Fourth: Full Inclusivity:
- Include every segment of society at COP28 and formalize future participation.
- Improve access to climate finance for indigenous peoples, women and girls.
- Advance climate education and ‘green’ skills.
- Create new coalitions to supercharge solutions including local leaders, business society, philanthropists, and private-sector innovators.
