NUNZIUM

The 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Expo City Dubai until December 12, drew global attention towards the urgent need to address climate change. The conference, marked by a historic loss and damage deal, sparked worldwide optimism despite the lingering contentious issue of fossil fuel usage.

COP28 served as a platform for global leaders, scientists, and environmentalists who were united in their quest to mitigate climate change. The summit witnessed a series of pledges and declarations, with over $80 billion mobilized for climate finance. Notably, the food declaration, endorsed by over 100 countries, emphasized the importance of placing climate at the heart of agricultural practices.

The global stocktake, another significant event at the conference, assessed progress towards limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The science behind this goal is unequivocal, as stated by Simon Stiell, the chief of the U.N. climate agency.

Despite these advancements, the future of fossil fuels was a contentious topic. While over 100 countries, including the US and EU, advocated for a phase-out, countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia resisted such proposals, arguing for the use of carbon capture technologies instead. This disagreement led to calls for wealthy countries to lead any fossil fuel phase-out, with the G77+China bloc of developing countries suggesting a revision of the "phase-down/phase-out" language.

In a positive development, the world’s 10 largest concrete and cement companies, which account for 8% of global CO2 emissions, pledged to decarbonise their industries, targeting net-zero emissions within 25 years.

The second week of the conference saw the presidency taking a more proactive role in guiding the talks towards a successful outcome. Tom Evans, a climate change expert at think tank E3G, opined that the global stocktake decision would likely carry the most politically significant messages.

The conference also underscored the devastating impact of climate change on wildlife, citing the tragic deaths of dozens of elephants in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park due to climate change and the El Nino global weather pattern.

As COP28 concluded, the focus shifted to the future, particularly the location of the next COP29 summit. Despite Russia's resistance to any EU member as COP president, Azerbaijan emerged as a likely host, with Bulgaria and Moldova also expressing interest.

In summary, while COP28 marked significant strides towards addressing climate change, the battle for a greener future is ongoing. The world now anticipates that the decisions made at COP28 will translate into tangible action, leading to a more sustainable future.