The United Nations climate summit in Dubai promises to be full of drama in its final days - in part because talks on whether to phase out global fossil fuels appear to have collapsed. One of the main goals of this year's conference, known as COP28, is a "global inventory" documenting the world's climate progress and next steps on climate. But as of Monday, any reference to ending the use of oil and gas has disappeared from the draft text, leading to widespread anger among climate advocates. Former US Vice President Al Gore declared that the conference was "on the brink of total failure". But the well-publicized debate over fossil fuels threatens to overshadow another major issue heading into the negotiations as the clock ticks down: whether world leaders can agree on how to adapt their countries' infrastructure to withstand global warming. As disasters caused by climate change continue to make headlines around the world, the fate of millions of people in particularly vulnerable regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia hangs on this question. (Naveena Sadasivam and Jake Bittle)

Last week, at the start of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, 134 countries signed a declaration pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from processes related to food production and consumption.

It is the first time in nearly three decades of climate summits, which have been established to set the world's direction in the fight against climate change, that the importance of food systems has been recognized in this way. For the first time, on December 10, COP28 will dedicate one day to discussing ways to reduce emissions from food and agriculture.

Many welcomed these steps. "It's great to finally have food on the COP menu," says Clement Metivier, a climate and biodiversity policy expert at the World Wide Fund for Nature in the UK, who is attending COP28. “There is real momentum around transforming food systems to address both biodiversity and the climate crisis.” But equally, the researchers say, not enough is being done to reduce emissions in one of the world's largest, largely unaddressed sources – and that will require tough policy decisions. (Carissa Wong)

The loss of biodiversity worldwide is a major contributor to climate change, and the need for conservation and restoration will play a key role in limiting global warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement. Nature and biodiversity will once again be firmly on the COP28 agenda and the need to agree on global targets in this area to help tackle climate change.

It has already been announced that Brazil plans to propose a fund to pay for the protection of tropical forests at COP28. If it comes to fruition, it would be another major step forward following the launch of the new Global Framework Fund for Biodiversity, which aims to increase investment in nature and support indigenous communities in developing and small island countries around the world, as well as the UN. request contributions to help protect 30 % of land and coastal areas by 2030.

One aspect of COP28 that focuses on biodiversity is the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which will host a 'Unite for Nature' pavilion in the COP28 Blue Zone and provide a platform to showcase the Union's collective work. is currently performing. There is hope that since COP27 and last year's UN Conference on Biodiversity the momentum can be sustained with continued progress towards protecting and restoring ecosystems.

The Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership was launched at COP27 to help accelerate the commitment made at COP26 to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation. This year we will want financial packages to help fund plans from countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to stop deforestation. Nature-based solutions can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation and work with nature to regenerate and restore ecosystems.

If COP28 can reach agreements on more specific goals and measures to protect nature and biodiversity, it will be a huge success for the summit. This is something I am optimistic about as one of the four focus areas of COP28 is "Focusing on Nature, People, Lives and Livelihoods". This includes helping the most vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change that are already occurring and working with them to achieve solutions that are sustainable for the future. (lexology.com)

At the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, they made commitments in three key areas – many countries in renewables and energy efficiency and a significant number of companies in methane. These are three of the five key areas of action highlighted by the International Energy Agency (IEA) ahead of the COP28 conference. The IEA has now analyzed what the impact would be on global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions if all signatories to these pledges met them in full. It shows that while the pledges are positive steps forward in addressing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector, they would not be nearly enough to put the world on track to meet international climate goals, particularly the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°. C. As of Friday, December 8, approximately 130 countries have committed to tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and doubling the annual rate of improvement in energy efficiency each year by 2030. Together, these countries account for 40 % of global carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions from burning fossil fuels , 37 % of total global energy demand and 56 % of global GDP.

As the world witnesses the transition to a low-carbon economy, sources and centers of demand have found new addresses. The need for international cooperation therefore becomes inevitable.  There is no single region or country that has sufficient resources to achieve the accelerated decarbonization that is needed today. Whatever ground-breaking green or low-carbon initiatives are happening on the ground around the world, they are the result of some form of cooperation or collaboration within the value chain.  All sectors are parties to this growing need, but the industrial sector, especially the sectors that are difficult to reduce, that are the main contributors of greenhouse gases and still have a large scope for reducing emissions, especially the needs of decarbonization and international cooperation can play a significant role in accelerating this. (Parth Kumar)

COP28 is focusing on ecosystems more than ever before – and renewing our relationship with nature. Mangroves are a key natural ally against climate change; they have an exceptional ability to sequester carbon. While protecting their communities from storm and flood damage is $65 billion a year worldwide. However, since 1996, 1.2 million hectares of mangroves have been lost. The Mangrove Breakthrough was approved today by 21 countries, which committed to securing 15 million hectares of mangroves globally by 2030.  “Locally in the UAE, our nation has always lived in a very harsh environment. My grandparents and our founding fathers had to protect and then restore nature. If the UAE has enabled success stories, we as a world can have more such stories,” he added. said HE Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency. The International Center for Mangrove Research was also launched today, which focuses on reducing carbon emissions, adapting to climate and protecting people and livelihoods. 

The COP28 summit, currently underway in the United Arab Emirates, has drawn attention to the damaging effects of climate change in developing economies, including South Africa. For a country accustomed to a festive season often characterized by rain and cold weather, the signs of a rapidly changing weather phenomenon are now ominous - the impact of climate change is painfully transparent. In fact, the entire southern African region is in the throes of El Niño – climate-related variability that is likely to affect agricultural and food production. Poor rainfall could potentially affect crop yields – particularly in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), North West and Limpopo. This corresponds only to the physical risks of climate change. In addition, developed countries' responses to climate change pose a transition risk for developing economies. For example, the European Union's carbon cap adjustment mechanism introduced in October 2023 could undermine the competitiveness of South African exports if the industry does not change. If this risk were to materialize, it would further affect the poor economic performance of the country. (Joanne Bate)

Countries that have committed to climate education through the "UNESCO Environmental Education Partnership Declaration"

The first-ever Youth Stocktake analyzed youth engagement in climate diplomacy and best practices for increasing youth participation in climate decisions 

President of COP28, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, confirms that the youth climate champion should become an official role of the COP

"The UAE is proud to support young people" – COP28 Youth Climate Champion, JE Al Mazrui

COP28 May Bring 'Paradigm Shift' in Next Five Days - COP28 President Dr Sultan Al-Jaber  

 

Abilities of the future

How will the skills of the future be learned? An open session attended by education ministries sought to answer this question, bringing together pioneers from Teachers for the Planet to announce plans for an international standard for implementing climate change into all national education curricula around the world. More than 70 countries have already pledged to do so over the next three years to improve global climate education, a key goal of the UAE's COP28.

"The challenge is: how do we make teaching the most important green job on which all other green jobs depend?" said Dr Andrew Cunningham of the Aga Khan Foundation. Most teachers are interested in climate change, added Urmila Sarkar of UNICEF Generation Unlimited, but want to be better equipped to teach it.

Rich countries must phase out coal by 2030 and oil and gas by 2040, with poorer countries lagging behind after a decade, to give the world a chance to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, UN climate scientists said on Friday. In a note to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN's climate change agency, shared with AFP, climate scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the University of Exeter said there was very little room for anything other than a complete phase-out of fossil fuels. fuels. The steep timeline they set comes as climate negotiators at the COP28 talks in Dubai wrangle the future of oil, gas and coal, which are responsible for the lion's share of planet-warming emissions. (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)

The European Union is set to set a "higher bar" in climate change negotiations as it aims to spark the beginning of the end of fossil fuels, according to a speech by the European Commissioner for Climate Action at the United Nations Conference of the Parties. in Dubai. Wopke Hoekstra he spoke on the last day of the technical phase of COP28. He recalled that "at COP28 we have more than 190 parties and we need all these parties, all these parties to agree to phase out fossil fuels". Any agreement emerging from the COP must be near-unanimous. The phase-out of fossil fuels is gaining support from small island states and other developing countries. The Spanish Deputy Prime Minister also spoke during the COP Teresa Ribera , as her country presides over the European Union. She also confirmed that "the European Union facilitates what the President [COP28, Sultan al-Jaber ] said he wants to achieve at this very precise moment: a historical turning point in this very critical decade. Ribera also called on al-Jaber to be more than an "honest broker" and lead talks towards an ambitious deal with his management. (Giacomo Fracassi)

United Nations, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- While most children and young people have heard of climate change, only half of them understand what it is, a new survey shows. On average, 85 percent of young people aged 15-24 surveyed in 55 countries said they had heard of climate change, but only 50 percent chose the correct definition, according to a survey by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Gallup, the results of which were released on Thursday . Young people were asked to choose between "seasonal weather changes that occur every year" and "more extreme weather events and increases in average global temperatures due to human activity" to measure their knowledge of climate change. The answer "more extreme changes" was the correct answer defined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The survey was published as world leaders meet in Dubai for this year's UN climate change conference (COP28). (Xinhua)

Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Turkey are among the most vocal opponents of the Cop28 decision to phase out coal, oil and gas. Saudi Arabia is one of the strongest opponents of the Cop28 decision to phase out fossil fuels as tensions rise towards the end of the first week of talks. Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman in an interview on Tuesday  to Bloomberg, he publicly said "absolutely no" to phasing out fossil fuels. Observers said this position was echoed in the meeting rooms.  "The countries that have made their positions extremely clear on this matter are Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Turkey in particular," said Romain Ioualalen, an activist at Oil Change International, during a press conference. Main text, being discussed at Cop28, the global review of climate policies, the "energy package" includes targets to phase out fossil fuels, triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency. (Sebastian Rodriguez)

The Dubai Climate Change Conference, or COP28, is currently underway, which runs from November 30 to December 12, 2023. The international conference will bring together representatives of countries that are signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. One of the main goals of COP28 is to continue the development of the energy transition and accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels, the main sources of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. In addition to the impact on the climate, fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas also pose significant pollution problems; for example, when they are burned, fine particles (PM2.5) are created. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), long-term exposure to these particles is likely to create or worsen various health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. While the WHO recommends a maximum level of 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air for long-term exposure from 2021, the vast majority of cities in the European Union far exceed this limit. (ANNA FLECK)

Recognizing that wood from sustainably managed forests provides climate solutions in the construction sector, we are committed to promoting policies and approaches by 2030 that support low-carbon construction and increase the use of wood from sustainably managed forests in the built environment. Such policies and approaches will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon sequestration. ISFC Chairman Dr. David Brand said: “The building sector and the built environment account for more than a third of global emissions and it is vital that countries move quickly to reduce carbon emissions and increase carbon sequestration by using much more wood. buildings. We also need to replace plastics with fibre-based products and introduce sustainably produced bio-based materials on a large scale into textiles, fuels and pharmaceutical production systems. We are pleased that the International Coalition for Sustainable Forestry is specifically referenced in the supporting documentation for this announcement.”* (Larry Adams)

UN Global Summit on Climate Change , known as COP28 , enters its second and final week in Dubai. Now the hard work of negotiations begins. The summit has had some explosive ups and downs so far, from John Kerry naming and shaming oil giants to fighting over the words "phaseout" and "phase down." Most importantly, however, all participating countries agree to try to meet the Paris Agreement's target of 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming - a growing body of scientific evidence shows that doing otherwise will have dire consequences for the Earth. So, here are four key moments from the summit so far and what to expect as COP28 heads for the finish line on December 12. (Dave Levitan)

The climate crisis is a crisis of education. Right here, right now, climate change is robbing millions of children and teenagers of their right to learn, their right to play and their right to feel safe. Deadly floods in Pakistan destroyed or damaged more than 26,000 schools last year. This has put more than 600,000 adolescent girls at higher risk of dropping out of school, gender-based violence and child marriage. In Ethiopia, girls like Mellion are starving and at risk of dropping out of school forever due to the ongoing drought.

While the climate crisis threatens the rights of every person on the planet, those bearing its brunt are the most vulnerable girls and boys who already live in protracted crisis environments due to armed conflict, forced displacement and other crises. For them and their communities, climate change is already a daunting reality that can mean the difference between life and death, between war and peace, between being able to learn or not.

Today, there are more than 224 million children affected by crisis around the world who urgently need support in education. New analysis from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), UNICEF's global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, found that 62 million of these children have been affected by climate risks such as droughts, floods, cyclones and other extreme weather. events from 2020. This is close to the total population of several G7 countries such as the UK, France or Italy. (From The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown and Yasmine Sherif, The Rt. the Honorable Gordon Brown is the UN Special Envoy for Global Education and Chair of the High Level Steering Group on Education cannot wait. Yasmine Sherif is the executive director of Education Cannot Wait, a global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises.)

Current global climate policies are not bold enough to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This is one of the findings of the latest scenario update from the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS). This network of central bankers and bank supervisors, together with leading academic climate institutions, has developed analytical toolkit to assess what our economies might look like under different climate policy paths. These are called "climate scenarios". The latest results are alarming and point to a worse economic impact of climate change than originally assumed . (Senne Aerts, Martina Spaggiari and Livio Stracca).

 

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A key UN climate conference (COP28) is taking place in Dubai this week. One factor that is unlikely to be on the agenda is human population growth, despite a recent warning from scientists stressing the need to address population growth. The UN has also published its 'Tipping Points' report, which warns of irreversible environmental disasters, but only hints at one of the root causes, population. PM Campaigns and Media Officer Madeleine Hewitt assesses recent news. This one UN report analyzed six interconnected risk points, defined as irreversible changes where the current systems the world relies on cease to function properly, increasing the risk of catastrophic effects.

The six tipping points identified by the UN for their potential to affect millions of lives are:

• Accelerating extinctions causing ecosystem collapse.
• Depletion of groundwater threatens drought and water shortages.
• Melting of mountain glaciers.
• Space debris causing the loss of multiple satellites.
• Unbearable heat threatening human health in certain areas.
• Uninsurable futures where rising environmental risks make homes unaffordable.

Population growth drives 5 out of 6 of these tipping points, with the obvious exception of space debris, but only technical report on accelerating extinction cites human population growth as a contributing factor. Instead, what needs to be summarized here is how population growth underlies each of the UN's identified tipping points.

Days after the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, 50 oil and gas companies have made a general commitment to decarbonize their operations by mid-century. This is a start, but nothing like phasing out the actual emissions from burning oil and gas. And even when companies commit to reducing their operational emissions, it's hard to say what that means in practice. They are rarely transparent about their reasons for choosing a particular methodology to calculate emission reductions, or about the underlying data used. 2021 study analyzed publicly available emissions information from 52 oil and gas companies, many of which have made large emissions reduction claims. Simon Dietz of the London School of Economics and Political Science and his colleagues estimated the future emissions intensity of these companies – the rate of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of activity – and compared their trajectories to scenarios that meet the targets of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. They found that the companies they are not setting targets that are ambitious enough, nor are they reducing emissions fast enough to meet the Paris target of limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. (nature.com, editors)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates ) – The world pumped 1.1 % more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere this year than last year due to increased pollution from China and India, a team of scientists reported. The increase was noted on Tuesday at international climate talks, where global leaders are trying to cut emissions by 43 % by 2030. Instead, carbon pollution continues to rise, with 36.8 billion tonnes spilled into the air by 2023, double the annual amount 40 years ago, according to the Global Carbon Project, a group of international scientists who produce the gold standard for counting emissions. “It now seems inevitable that we will exceed the 1.5 (degrees Celsius, 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) target of the Paris Agreement, and leaders meeting at COP28 will need to agree on rapid reductions in fossil fuel emissions to maintain 2 ( degree Celsius, 3.6 degrees). Fahrenheit) target alive," said study lead author Pierre Friedlingstein of the University of Exeter. Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees is "just possible", but only barely with massive reductions in emissions, said Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change chairman Jim Skea. (SETH BORENSTEIN / AP, tíme.com)