World leaders, government representatives and delegates are set to gather for the annual United Nations climate change summit (COP28) in Dubai, which will begin on November 30 and continue for almost two weeks.
Reining in fossil fuels and carbon emissions are expected to be topping the agenda of the summit. International funding to help countries adapt to climate change will also be hotly debated as developing countries have been demanding more contributions from the industrialized nations.
As the debate around COP28 and its impact continues, here’s what to know about this year’s conference and what makes it significant:
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COP is the primary decision-making body of The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), established in 1992.
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Representatives of 197 countries who have signed or are “parties” to the UNFCCC will participate primarily through debates and negotiations.
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The conference will be held at Expo City in Dubai, UAE and more than 140 heads of state, senior government leaders and at least 70,000 participants are expected to attend.
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The COP28 will take place in the backdrop of devastating floods and heatwaves, fierce wildfires and the Earth’s hottest summer on record this year. The event is considered an opportunity for countries to better rein in climate change by devising improved targets and measures through tools such as finance, technology and capacity-building.
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This year, member states will negotiate while facing their first Global Stocktake (GST) – a scorecard analysing countries’ progress towards the Paris Agreement – so they can adapt their next climate action plans which are due in 2025.
Additionally, this year’s presidency has set four themes to be at the forefront of the summit:
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Fast-tracking the energy transition: revolves around renewable energy, and food and agricultural systems.
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Fixing climate finance: aims to prioritise the Global South in adaptation finance and help vulnerable communities rebuild after climate disasters, among other targets.
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Nature, people, lives, and livelihoods: geared towards food systems, nature-based solutions, and protecting against extreme weather events and biodiversity loss.
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Inclusivity in climate management: includes youth involvement and improved communication between different sectors and agencies