From 28th of November to the 12th of December 2023, in the city of Dubai, the world’s leaders and environmental activists gathered for the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP28. The conference was a whirlwind of discussions, negotiations, and commitments, with both highlights and lowlights marking the event.
The highlights of the conference were numerous. A historic move was made when a loss and damage fund was agreed upon. This fund, something the global south had been demanding for decades, was seen as a hard-won victory by developing countries. They hoped it would signal a commitment by the developed, polluting nations to finally provide financial support for some of the destruction already under way. Another significant achievement was the agreement among 200 nations to transition away from fossil fuels. This marked the culmination of two weeks in which tensions flared over the future of coal.
However, the conference was not without its lowlights. A spectacular row erupted about the host president’s remarks on the science of fossil fuels. Sultan Al Jaber, who runs the UAE’s state-owned oil company, Adnoc, had said in a video call last month that there was “no science” indicating that a phase-out of fossil fuels was needed to restrict global heating to 1.5C. This caused an outcry from climate scientists. Another lowlight was the realization that the $700m (£557m) so far pledged by wealthy nations most responsible for the climate emergency covers less than 0.2% of what is needed every year.
As for the results of COP28, they were a mixed bag. The conference started on a high note with the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund with pledges of up to $792 million. However, this is less than 1 percent of what is needed to support people facing the greatest challenges from the impacts of climate change. The conference concluded with an agreement among 200 nations to transition away from fossil fuels, marking a significant step towards a sustainable future. However, the real test lies in whether these commitments will be backed up with action⁷.
In the end, COP28 was a reminder of the urgent need for global cooperation and action to combat climate change. The world watched as leaders debated and made promises. Now, it waits to see if these promises will be kept and if the necessary actions will be taken to safeguard our planet for future generations.