COP28 - 28th Conference of Parties UN COP 28 UAE

- Parties have agreed in the official COP28 negotiated text to institutionalize the role of the Presidency Youth Climate Champion (YCC) within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, to enhance the meaningful participation and representation of youth in future COPs. - Following the COP27 Youth Envoy role, COP28 appointed the first official Youth Climate Champion, Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, who was previously the youngest minister of state in the world. - The UAE has been committed to supporting the formalization of the YCC role to ensure all future COPs will engage meaningfully with young people and other marginalized groups in the UNFCCC process. - The current YCC and COP28 Presidency teams are also seeking sustainable external funding to avoid any need for Party-negotiated finance, and maximum practical support for youth-led climate action and movements. - The COP28 Youth Climate Delegates Program is the largest initiative to-date to expand youth participation in the COP process, with 110 young people from around the world being empowered to drive climate action and participate in the COP negotiations.

COP28 World Climate Action Summit Opening United Nations Climate Change Conference

COP28 Closing Plenary

COP28 Together we have the opportunity to deliver history again COP 28

COP 28 Presidency Formal Plenary Dr. Sultan Al Jaber Speech

COP28 Simon Stiell Executive Secretary UNFCCC Press Conference 11 December 2023

António Guterres - Secretary-General of the UN Press Conference 11 December 2023 COP 28

COP28 Closing Remarks

COP28 DELIVERS HISTORIC CONSENSUS IN DUBAI TO ACCELERATE CLIMATE ACTION - “The world needed to find a new way. By following our North Star, we have found that path,” said COP28 President, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber during his closing speech, “We have worked very hard to secure a better future for our people and our planet. We should be proud of our historic achievement.” - COP28 has concluded with a final consensus that lays out an ambitious response to the Global Stocktake and puts forward a plan to close the gaps to 2030. It calls on Parties to transition away from fossil fuels to reach net zero, encourages them to submit economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), includes a new specific target to triple renewables and double energy efficiency by 2030, and builds momentum behind a new architecture for climate finance. - The COP28 Presidency took bold and decisive steps to deliver beyond the negotiated text through its ‘Action Agenda,’ which spans the four pillars of the Paris Agreement: fast tracking a just and orderly energy transition; fixing climate finance to make it more available, affordable, and accessible; focusing on people, nature, lives and livelihoods; and fostering full inclusivity in climate action. - COP28 has mobilized over $85 billion in funding for climate action, secured a historic agreement on Loss and Damage, advanced the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and overseen breakthrough agreements on the energy transition. - This has been the most inclusive COP to-date, ensuring all voices could participate in the process.

COP28’s Food, Agriculture and Water Day secures major commitments to address climate impacts and keep 1.5C within reach - COP28’s Food, Agriculture and Water Day saw key announcements on global water scarcity and food security, as countries mobilized behind the COP28 UAE Declaration on Agriculture, Food Systems and Climate Action (the Declaration), now endorsed by 152 countries, and the Water Action Agenda. - In total, more than USD $7.1 billion has been mobilized during COP28 for climate positive action in the food system sector. - Major announcements made during Food, Agriculture and Water Day include the launch of a two-year work partnership to COP30 by the UAE and Brazil, made during the first-ever COP ministerial dialogue on building water-resilient food systems. - The COP28 UAE Presidency and partners also announced more than new 30 country members of the Freshwater Challenge, which commits members to work to protect and restore 30 percent of the Earth’s degraded freshwater ecosystems by 2030. - The COP28 Presidency, FAO, the World Bank, CGIAR and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) announced the joint Sharm-El Sheikh Support Programme, a three-year support package to help countries to unlock finance and support for farmers, food producers, small agribusinesses and local communities.

UNITED FOR NATURE: COP28 MOBILIZES ACTION TO PROTECT AND RESTORE FORESTS, MANGROVES, LAND AND OCEAN

The COP28 Presidency and the International Energy Agency (IEA) High-Level Dialogues concluded with strong consensus on the key elements needed for the energy transition. The fifth and final Dialogue, held during COP28 in Dubai, was attended by over 40 high-level leaders, including Heads of State and Government, Heads of Delegation and business leaders. It marks a significant achievement for the co-Chairs, COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA. The Dialogues concluded with clear convergence on the building blocks of a 1.5°C-aligned energy transition and strong support for an ambitious decision on the Global Stocktake at COP28. Dr. Birol set out an ambitious and integrated package across five pillars for COP28, for which there was strong support in the room: Tripling global renewable energy generation capacity by 2030. Doubling annual energy efficiency improvements by 2030. An orderly decline of fossil fuel use demand by 2030, starting with no new coal plants. Commitment from the oil and gas industry to align their strategies and investment portfolios with 1.5°C, with a focus on a 75 percent reduction in methane emissions by 2030. Financing mechanisms for a major scaling-up of clean energy investment in emerging and developing economies. At the conclusion of the Dialogues, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: “This series of dialogues has allowed us to converge on the critical elements of the just energy transition. The transition will not be straightforward, but it will be harder if we cannot agree on its central components. Simply put, to deliver the highest possible ambitious response to the Global Stocktake we must work together. I am encouraged by the practical actions brought forward by world leaders today at the final dialogue, and I hope that you take this open mindset and optimism throughout this COP.” Dr. Birol commented: “I’m encouraged by the support by governments around the world during the dialogue for the IEA’s five pillars for success at COP28, including the need by 2030 for tripling renewable capacity, for doubling energy efficiency improvements, for the oil and gas industry to meaningfully commit to clean energy transitions, for a massive increase in financing for developing economies, and for an orderly decline of fossil fuel use. We now need to see this support translate into concrete commitments and action.” Attendees highlighted the strong support for the COP28 Presidency’s Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge, which has been signed by 130 countries. There was broad agreement on the need for urgent action on coal, not only on no new unabated coal plants, but also on accelerating the retirement of existing plants. There was also acknowledgement that countries must seize the opportunity to develop and accelerate their own energy transition plans, while supporting developing countries with finance and technology transfer. Initiatives such as Just Energy Transition Partnershi

COP28’s flagship youth day hosted the first ever Youth Stocktake, bringing together thousands of young people from across the globe under the banner of climate action.

COP28 Letter to Parties 2

COP28 Letter to Parties 1

COP28 Letter to Parties 3

Excellencies, delegates, friends, In fourteen days, we will convene in Dubai to seek practical solutions to the climate change challenge and deliver an ambitious response to the first Global Stocktake. In an increasingly turbulent world, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen global solidarity and inspire the hope, optimism, and ingenuity required to transform our economies, safeguard our future, and keep 1.5°c within reach. While that ambition may seem daunting, the need for us to deliver a high-ambition outcome becomes ever-clearer. This year is the hottest in human history. It is no longer just the science that tells us that. Today, we all see and feel the impacts of climate change first-hand. It is a constant reminder that we must do more. The world needs good news, and the global community demands real action; we must meet their expectations. We must restore trust in multilateralism. COP28 provides the most immediate opportunity to do that. We must put aside our own interests. We must work together towards a greater good. We all know the actions we must take. We must enable a just and responsible energy transition. We must reduce emissions. We must fix climate finance and make it more available, affordable, and accessible. We must protect nature, lives, and livelihoods and ensure sustainable, fair, socioeconomic development for all. We must do this for our families, our friends, and for all future generations. So, ahead of COP28, I ask only this: be positive and be prepared. Be prepared to contribute. Be prepared to collaborate. Be prepared to deliver. Be prepared for the moment when our ambitions become actions and our promises become progress. The UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, taught us that good work is hard, and hard work is good; and I am confident that your hard work to-date provides the best possible foundation for meaningful progress at COP28. I remain committed to ensuring that you will have the space and support required to deliver a historic, meaningful, high-ambition outcome. The stage is set, and the world is waiting. We must not disappoint. We must unite. We must act. And we must deliver. Yours faithfully, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber President Designate, COP28 UAE

oday, the COP28 Presidency joined with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, and Bloomberg Philanthropies to call on housing, urban development, environment, and finance ministers to back the ‘Joint Outcome Statement on Urbanization and Climate Change’ (the Statement). The Statement, which was supported by over 40 Ministers of Environment, Urban Development and Housing was put forward at COP28 during the second Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change. At the event, the COP28 Presidency reiterated its call to national governments to fully integrate climate action among all levels of government and collaborate with subnational governments on the design and implementation of new climate plans and policies, including the next round of NDCs ahead of COP30 in 2025. The Statement sets out a ten-point plan to boost the inclusion of cities in the decision-making process on climate change, drive multilevel climate action and accelerate the deployment of urban climate finance so that cities are prepared and supported to respond to the climate crisis. Currently, as many as 90 percent of cities are threatened by rising sea levels and storms, and their residents are exposed to ten degrees higher temperatures than their counterparts in rural areas. “COP28 is a paradigm shift to action. We are empowering and supporting cities on the frontlines of climate change to seize the initiative,” said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the COP28 President. “We have brought over 450 mayors and governors to COP28 and their hyperlocal knowledge is crucial in informing our global solutions. When we talk about inclusivity this is what we mean, we need all voices at the table. I thank and commend those involved for their leadership,” added Dr. Al Jaber. “Each city has individual needs and solutions but fundamentally this is a global problem, which this Statement shows. We have bought over 1,000 mayors and governors to COP28 as, when we talk about full inclusivity this is what we mean. We know we can need to learn from and support those on the frontlines. I thank and commend those involved for their leadership,” added Dr. Al Jaber. The Statement builds on the ‘Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships’ (CHAMP), which was launched at the Local Climate Action Summit (LCAS) on 1 December at COP28 and aims to inform and empower Ministers. CHAMP aims to identify and strengthen levers to increase and accelerate the deployment of climate finance to enable cities and local governments to respond to the climate crisis. It also aims to enable the inclusion of local and regional leaders in the formation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). To date, CHAMP has been endorsed by over 60 national governments. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), said, “The Ministerial Meetin

Over 40 ministers met today in Dubai in support of subnational climate action, joining the COP28 Presidency to announce a series of partnerships to accelerate the net-zero transition and climate resilience in cities. The announcements span sectors including buildings, waste and resource management systems, urban water resilience, and urban nature restoration. They build on the 1 December launch of the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships for Climate Action (CHAMP) to include cities and regions in the design of federal climate commitments and strategies. “Meeting the aims of the Paris Agreement and keeping 1.5°C within reach depends on the leadership and support of the world’s mayors and governors,” said Dr. Al Jaber, “That is why at COP28 we have empowered leaders and communities by launching CHAMP and working with organizations like UN-Habitat and Bloomberg Philanthropies to recognize and support the important roles cities and their leaders can play in addressing climate change." Multilevel Action, Urbanization, Built Environment and Transport Day hosted the second Urban Climate Ministerial, co-organized with United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28,and concludes a week of unprecedented mayoral and gubernatorial participation in the COP process. Brazil’s Minister of Cities, HE Jader Barbalho Filho, closed the meeting by announcing Brazil’s plans to widen participation and mobilization for the Ministerial at COP30. The COP28 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies partnered to deliver the Local Climate Action Summit (LCAS) (1-2 December), which saw over 500 subnational leaders join the summit portion of a COP for the first time. Nearly USD $500 million of new city-focused climate investment was also announced. 6 December outcomes include: The Buildings Breakthrough The Buildings Breakthrough, launched with the support of 27 countries, is led by France and Morocco. The partnership aims to make ‘near-zero and resilient buildings’ the new normal by 2030, addressing the fact that the building sector alone accounts for nearly 40 percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions, 50 percent of extracted materials, and one-third of global waste. The Cement Breakthrough The Cement and Concrete Breakthrough was launched by Canada and the UAE, along with an inaugural cohort of endorsing countries that include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan and Germany. The initiative strives to make clean cement the preferred choice in global markets, with near-zero emission cement production established and growing in every region of the world by 2030. The Waste to Zero initiative Waste to Zero[1] is a voluntary coalition made up of governments of all levels, NGOs, and the private sector to decarbonize the waste management sector and transform waste into resources[2]. Waste to Zero is an official initiative under the UAE’s ‘Year of Sust

As the world convenes for COP28 to address urgent climate challenges, the spotlight is on nature-based solutions as a cost-effective resilience strategy. Despite its promise, a key challenge remains: financing. Traditional funding has often overlooked nature-based solutions in favor of conventional infrastructure projects. However, a range of innovative financing mechanisms can bridge this financing gap and scale up nature-based solutions.


 Nature-based Solutions Nature-based solutions have emerged as a compelling, cost-effective way to build resilience against climate change. Using nature's own systems, nature-based solutions aim to mitigate risks and buffer communities against the increasing threats posed by a changing climate. Examples range from allowing waterways to meander along their natural courses to help reduce flood risks to conserving coastal mangrove forests to protect nearby homes from storm surges. Despite its promise, financing remains a hurdle, partly because traditional funding models have focused on grey infrastructure, such as embankments for flood control or new reservoirs to relieve water shortages, rather than on natural systems. As COP28 brings the world's attention to pressing climate challenges, it is time to explore alternative financing mechanisms for scaling up nature-based solutions. Payments for Ecosystem Services Among the leading market-based solutions are Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES). PES incentivizes communities to maintain or enhance valuable ecosystem services such as flood control. Payments are directly linked to measurable improvements in ecosystem health, providing a sustainable financing model that can be adapted for various nature-based solutions. Overall, PES can serve as a key mechanism for financing nature-based solutions, offering a direct line of revenue for sustainably managed ecosystem. Public-Private Partnerships Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer a collaborative approach to tackle the challenges of climate adaptation. Traditional PPPs have been used to develop public infrastructure like transportation and utilities, but their scope can be expanded to include nature-based solutions initiatives. In these partnerships, public and private sectors combine their resources and expertise to deliver more efficient solutions. This can range from local nature-based solutions projects to strategic partnerships aimed at protecting or restoring ecosystems. Green Bonds Green bonds are a promising tool to attract investment in environmental projects, including nature-based solutions. Issued by both public and private entities, these bonds specifically fund projects that deliver environmental benefits. They provide an opportunity for investors to contribute to sustainability while also receiving financial returns. Green bonds can fund projects like sustainable land use, habitat restoration, and other nature-based solutions-related activities. The versatility and attractiveness of green bonds make

Navigating the Water-Food Nexus in the Age of Climate Change As the world's leaders gather at COP28, the urgent issue of climate change's impact on crucial resources like water and food takes center stage. The water-food nexus, which encapsulates the complex relationship between water availability and food production, is of paramount importance now more than ever. Understanding the Water-Food Nexus This nexus is deeply interconnected with socio-economic factors and is further complicated by rapid population growth and climate change. Agriculture consumes approximately 70% of the world's freshwater, primarily for crop irrigation and livestock. Simultaneously, these agricultural activities can degrade water quality and deplete groundwater, creating a cycle of resource scarcity. Climate Challenges to the Nexus Climate change is a disruptive force affecting this delicate balance. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather events directly influence both water availability and agricultural productivity. These climatic variables exacerbate food and water insecurities, especially in regions with limited capacity to adapt. 
Innovations for a Resilient Nexus COP28 offers a platform to discuss and showcase innovative technologies and sustainable practices aimed at balancing this nexus. One such breakthrough is AI-driven precision agriculture, a technology that amalgamates machine learning, computer vision, and data analytics to optimize farming operations: AI-Enabled Efficiency: Smart irrigation systems utilize AI algorithms that rely on sensors to monitor soil moisture and weather data, thereby optimizing water use. These technologies significantly enhance water efficiency and make farming more sustainable. Predictive Analytics: AI-driven predictive models assist in forecasting crop water requirements by integrating historical data, weather patterns, and crop information. These insights help in fine-tuning irrigation schedules, ultimately leading to better water management. Remote Sensing Technologies: Satellite and drone-based remote sensing offer unparalleled capabilities in monitoring crop health and environmental factors. AI algorithms process this data to detect patterns related to water use, enabling more targeted irrigation practices. Yield Optimization and Footprint Reduction: AI-powered agriculture optimizes water use, reducing agriculture's overall water footprint and increasing yield. This efficiency is vital as the world grapples with water scarcity and the looming threat of food insecurity. The water-food nexus is a complex but crucial topic demanding immediate action, especially in the age of climate change. Innovations and insights presented at COP28 provide a roadmap for achieving a more balanced and sustainable relationship between water and food. As we venture into this uncertain future, it's clear that technology will play an indispensable role in steering us towards sustainability and resilience.

THE GLOBAL COOLING PLEDGE: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE PARIS AGREEMENT AND THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL In the ongoing battle against global warming, the Global Cooling Pledge emerges as a formidable initiative. Its primary focus revolves around five pivotal areas: nature-based solutions, super-efficient appliances, food and vaccine cold chains, district cooling, and National Cooling Action Plans. The ultimate goal? To provide equitable access to eco-friendly cooling solutions, with a particular emphasis on reaching vulnerable communities.
 This initiative, however, is not just about mitigating climate change; it's also about adapting to it. At present, over 1 billion people face imminent threats due to extreme heat, with the majority concentrated in Africa and Asia. Currently, conventional cooling methods, particularly air conditioning, are substantial contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for over seven percent. Without effective management, it is forecasted that the energy demand for space cooling could triple by 2050, inevitably amplifying emissions.
 Yet, a paradox persists; nearly 2.5 billion people still lack access to climate-friendly cooling solutions, while over 1 billion continue to endure high risks associated with extreme heat. What exacerbates this paradoxical scenario is the very reliance on conventional cooling methods, which significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
 Enter the Global Cooling Pledge, a comprehensive framework that galvanizes governments and stakeholders to take action in those five above-mentioned critical. This multifaceted approach targets the root causes of inefficient and emissions-intensive cooling practices while promoting sustainable alternatives.
 Moreover, there is compelling evidence that coordinated international action on energy-efficient, climate-friendly cooling could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions - up to 460 billion tons over the next four decades. This reduction is equivalent to eight years of global emissions at 2018 levels, underscoring the substantial environmental gains that can be achieved through a collective commitment to sustainable cooling. Within this context, various policy options come into play, encompassing universal promotion of energy efficiency standards, comprehensive labelling mechanisms, robust building codes, and the establishment of sustainable cold chains. Each of these policy options serves as a vital component of advancing sustainable cooling solutions and contributing to the broader agenda of climate change mitigation. The exponential growth in global demand for cooling is an undeniable reality, with projections indicating a tripling of the number of air conditioning units by 2050. This surge in demand poses significant challenges, as space cooling already accounts for nearly 20% of total electricity usage in buildings. If we fail to implement efficiency improvements, energy demand for space cooling will more than triple

COP28’s Climate Innovation Forum brought together the world’s technology leaders in a series of talks exploring cutting-edge solutions to tackle the global climate crisis, including artificial intelligence (AI), satellite technology, big data, clean energy, industrial decarbonization, low-carbon hydrogen, and more. Attending the Climate Innovation Forum were key leaders in the technology and sustainability fields, including: His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Director General of The Prime Minister’s Office. Bill Gates, Founder of Breakthrough Energy and Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Arvind Krishna, the CEO of IBM, Kate Brandt, Chief Sustainability Officer of Google. Elizabeth Gaines, Non-Executive Director and Global Green Ambassador at Fortescue Metals. Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President at Microsoft along with several innovative startups from Breakthrough Energy Ventures. “Developing and scaling the solutions necessary to support the global energy transition, at the speed required to meet our goals, will require unprecedented cross-sector collaboration,” Adnan Amin, the CEO of COP28 said, “it is an honor to bring together the best and the brightest in the technology world to rally around the shared objective of driving climate progress. We must ensure that the decisions made here at COP28 are translated into practical real-world action and technology will play a pivotal role in making sure that happens.” Convening in Dubai, a city which itself is one of the world’s leading technology hubs, the Climate Innovation Forum opened with an address by His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Director General of The Prime Minister’s Office. His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, said: “We are confronted with two distinct paths—one of hope and opportunity and the other in potential catastrophe. The potential for a technological revolution underpinned by environmental responsibility could lead us to a carbon-neutral future, reshaping our utilization of Earth’s resources to achieve progress and preservation simultaneously.” That session was followed by a fireside between His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Director General of The Prime Minister’s Office and Aravind Krisha, CEO of IBM where they spoke about a broad range of topics including the applications of AI and Quantum Computing and how they can help solve climate change issues, especially those facing the Global South. Kate Brandt, Google’s Chief Sustainability Officer then spoke about moonshot thinking for climate action and highlighted an example where AI is currently being piloted with the Chilean government for grid management. Bill Gates, Founde

The following is taken from a transcript of a speech delivered by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at the opening of COP28 in Dubai on 30 November 2023. Excellencies, Delegates, Colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen, Let me first thank our Egyptian friends for their stewardship over the last year, as they hand over this heavy responsibility to our Emirati colleagues. And let’s be clear, this is a heavy responsibility. Colleagues, This process reminds me of watching my baby son Joe, crawling across the sharp grasses of my parents’ island home. He was an accomplished crawler, and runner. But he barely spent any time on the baby steps in between. Today, we find ourselves in a rather different position, in humanity’s climate action journey. We are taking baby steps. Stepping far too slowly from an unstable world that lacks resilience, to working out the best responses to the complex impacts we are facing. We must teach climate action to run. Because this has been the hottest year ever in humanity. So many terrifying records were broken. We are paying with people’s lives and livelihoods. We’re standing at a precipice. Facing the Global Stocktake. And we’ve got two options. Firstly – we can note the lack of progress, tweaking our current best practices and encourage ourselves to do more ‘at some other point in time’. Or: We decide at what point we will have made everyone on the planet safe and resilient. We decide to fund this transition properly including the response to loss and damage. And We decide to commit to a new energy system. If we do not signal the terminal decline of the fossil fuel era as we know it, we welcome our own terminal decline. And we choose to pay with people’s lives. If this transition isn’t just, we won’t transition at all. That means justice within and between countries. Sharing benefits across society. Ensuring that everyone - women, indigenous peoples and youth, in all their diversity - have equal opportunities to benefit from these transitions. Last year, I said we were going to do things differently. So let me lay out that vision and what’s going to happen over the next two years. In 2024, countries will submit their first Biennial Transparency Report. This will mean the reality of individual progress can’t be concealed. We will also see at COP29 how to finance this massive shift, with the new Finance Goal. And let this be your first official notice that early in 2025, countries must deliver new Nationally Determined Contributions. Please start working on them now. This takes us to COP30, where every single commitment - on finance, adaptation, and mitigation - has to be in line with a 1.5 degree world. Science tells us we have around six years before we exhaust the planet’s ability to cope with our emissions. Before we blow through the 1.5 degree limit. As a boy, my son Joe had a wonderful phrase he would use when I was asking him to do something. “I’m trying to try Dad”, he’d say. Unfortunately, this does a

COP28 is important because it is an opportunity for governments to come together and agree on ambitious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The conference is also a chance for civil society and businesses to hold governments accountable and push for more ambitious climate action. The key issues at COP28 are likely to include: The global stocktake: This is a review of progress on climate change that is taking place every five years. The stocktake will assess progress on reducing emissions, adapting to climate change, and providing finance for climate action. Ambition on mitigation: Governments need to agree to increase their ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This means setting more ambitious targets for reducing emissions and taking more action to achieve those targets. Adaptation: Governments need to agree to provide more support to developing countries to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change. This includes providing finance for adaptation projects and helping countries to build resilience to climate change. Finance: Governments need to agree to provide more finance for climate action. This includes providing more money for developing countries and increasing the amount of money that is available for climate action. It is still too early to say what the outcome of COP28 will be. However, there are some things that we can expect: Governments will agree to a number of new decisions on climate change. There will be a strong focus on implementation. This means that governments will focus on how to put the decisions that they have agreed to into practice. There will be a strong focus on the needs of developing countries. This is because developing countries are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. There are a number of ways that you can get involved in COP28: Follow the conference online. The UNFCCC will be providing live coverage of the conference on its website. Contact your government representatives and urge them to take ambitious action on climate change. Join a climate action group or organization. Take action on climate change in your own life. This could include reducing your emissions, supporting climate-friendly businesses, or voting for climate-friendly candidates. COP28 is an important opportunity to take action on climate change. We all have a role to play in addressing the climate crisis. By getting involved in COP28, you can help to make a difference.

In the heart of Dubai, a city renowned as much for its futuristic skyline as its deep-rooted tradition, the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) unfolds from November 30 to December 12, 2023. This gathering marks a first for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region – a fitting locale for a meeting that is all about firsts, futures, and the forging of a sustainable path forward in our ongoing dialogue with the climate. The theme of COP28, "Accelerating Climate Action for the Sustainable Future," is more than a mere motto; it's a clarion call. As the world converges in Dubai, the air is thick not just with the region's warm breezes but with expectations, aspirations, and the sobering weight of responsibility. This conference isn't just another meeting; it's a pivotal juncture where the future of our planet and the legacy of our generations are at stake. The agenda of COP28 is as diverse as it is crucial: Mitigation: At the forefront is the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The world has been talking about this for decades; now is the time for escalated action, for turning pledges into reality. Adaptation: It's about helping countries and communities brace for and adapt to the relentless march of climate change. This is not just a problem for future generations; it's a challenge we face here and now. Finance: The issue of mobilizing climate finance is critical, especially for developing countries. Their fight against climate change is often hamstrung by a lack of resources, something the developed world must address. Loss and Damage: This goes beyond adaptation. It's about addressing the irreversible losses and damages wrought by climate change, a reality many face today. Collaboration: Lastly, the conference underscores the need for cooperation among all stakeholders. Governments, businesses, civil society, and indigenous peoples must all pull in the same direction. The expectations for COP28 are high: Ambitious New Commitments: The world is watching for countries to announce new, more ambitious commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Progress on Adaptation: There is an urgent need for tangible progress on adaptation measures, especially in vulnerable developing countries. Increased Climate Finance: A significant increase in climate finance is imperative. The developing world cannot fight climate change with empty coffers. Stronger Collaboration: COP28 must foster stronger, more effective collaboration among all parties involved. Charles Kuralt, the legendary American journalist, once said, “The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines.” At COP28, it’s this everyday kindness, this spirit of global camaraderie and cooperation, that needs to come to the fore. In the shimmering heat of Dubai, as the world's representatives gather, there is more than policy and protocol at play. There is hope, a shared