COP28 – Study Notes for UPSC

COP28 is the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting, which took place from November 30 to December 12, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). COP stands for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference is where governments discuss how to prepare for and limit future climate change.

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A Closer Look at the COP 28

COP28 stands for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, which is scheduled to take place in Nov – Dec 2023.

• This event is a global gathering where representatives from almost 200 countries convene to discuss and negotiate policies and actions to combat climate change.
• Why is it Important?
  • The primary objective of COP28 is to address the pressing issues of climate change , including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change impacts, and mobilizing financial resources for climate action.
  • The conference provides a platform for countries to set climate targets, share effective practices, and pledge commitments to fight climate change.
  • COP28 plays a pivotal role in promoting international collaboration and coordination to address the climate crisis and achieve the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement .
• Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has recently been appointed as the new President of COP 28.

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Highlighting the Key Points emphasized by the COP28 president-designate Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber:

• Methane Emissions and Net-Zero Plans :
  • He has urged the oil and gas industry to eradicate methane emissions by 2030 completely and align their operations with net-zero emission plans by 2050.
  • He stressed the importance of reducing and ultimately eliminating the carbon intensity of hydrocarbon usage, given their continued global consumption.
    • Methane emissions are one of the leading contributors to global warming, with fossil fuel operations accounting for more than a third of all human-generated methane emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
    • Therefore, tackling methane emissions is seen as one of the most effective actions that the energy sector can take to combat climate change.
• Inclusive Energy Transition and Climate Justice:

• • He highlighted the vital role that developing countries play in the battle against climate change.
    • He advocates for an inclusive energy transition and climate justice, ensuring that developing nations are not left behind.
  • There is a need to develop and implement new technologies for effective climate action and energy transition worldwide.
• Maximizing Technology Adoption and Climate Finance :
  • Developing countries should not be left behind in technology adoption, as they represent a significant portion of the world’s population.
  • The public, multilateral, and private sectors need to enhance climate finance to make it more available, accessible, and affordable.
  • Technology is essential in helping vulnerable communities build capacities and transition to a low-carbon economic development model.
• Renewable Energy Capacity and Hydrocarbons :
  • He advocates for a rapid increase in global renewable energy capacity, aiming to triple it to 11,000 GW by 2030 and double it again by 2040.
  • He acknowledges that hydrocarbons still play a necessary role as a bridge to a new energy system.
  • Reducing the carbon footprint, investing in low-carbon-intensive barrels of oil, and reducing intensity are crucial for hydrocarbon usage.
• Carbon Capture Technologies and Industrial Emissions:

• • He emphasizes the need to seriously consider carbon capture technologies to achieve realistic net-zero emissions scenarios.
  • Policy incentives should be in place to encourage technology companies to commercialize various carbon capture methods.
  • The expansion of carbon capture technologies and the transformation of captured carbon into usable products can contribute to emission reduction.
• Breakthroughs in Battery Storage, Nuclear Energy, and Fusion :
  • Continued advancements in battery storage technology are crucial for integrating renewable energy sources.
  • He supports the expansion of nuclear energy and investment in new energy pathways like fusion.
  • A focus on agricultural technology is necessary as food systems and agriculture contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions.

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What have been the Positive Outcomes of COP-28?

1. Global Climate Stock take- Based on the global stock take review at COP28, countries would be required to submit raised emissions reduction targets by mid-2025 for finalization at COP30. This stock take can guide our future climate action.

2. Operationalization of Loss and Damage Fund- The operationalization of the fund will help in ensuring climate justice to the developing and underdeveloped countries which have suffered tremendous loss and damage due to climate change.

3. Fossil fuel role in Climate Change- In COP-28, the role of fossil fuels in causing global warming has been formally acknowledged for the first time. Fossil fuels which contribute to 75% of all greenhouse gases and about 90% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, took center stage at COP28. This marks the beginning of the end of fossil fuel usage in the world.

4. Phase-down of coal- The COP-28 document singles out coal amongst other fossil fuels by calling for phase down.

5. Emission reduction with enhanced focus on renewable energy- The Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge, adopted at COP 28, has the potential to avoid emissions of about 7 billion tones of carbon dioxide equivalent between now and 2030. This reduction of emissions will be more than the combined emission reduction due to all the other climate actions being currently taken.

6. Increased Focus on Adaptation- COP 28 resulted in the identification of some common adaptation goals, which are important for the entire world. Before COP 28, adaptation measures had largely been a local endeavor.

7. Need for enhanced Climate Finance- The COP 28 conference also highlighted the need for enhanced climate finance to combat the climate change consequences. According to the report by UNCTAD, wealthy nations owe developing countries USD 500 billion in 2025 under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance.

8. Diverse participation- The COP 28 saw the participation of activist groups, indigenous groups, big and small business, consultancies, traders and media. These diverse groups enhance the transparency of the Climate change negotiations.

What are the Shortcomings of COP 28?

1. Lack of Ambitious Climate Action- Despite the various pledges, no binding ambitious climate action was launched.

2. Issues with the Fossil Fuel Pledge- No time schedules and targets have been fixed for the phase out of fossil fuel.

3. Issues with the Renewable Energy Pledge- Under the pledge, tripling of global renewable energy has been made a global target. However, there is no clarity as to how this would be achieved as no binding individual targets were made.

4. Issue with Phase Down of Coal Usage- COP 28 failed to resolve the impasse over the proposal that no new coal-fired power plants could be opened without an in-built carbon capture and storage facility.

5. Impasse over Methane Emission Cuts- Several countries, including India, are extremely opposed to any binding commitment to cut methane emissions. Cutting methane emissions could involve tweaking agricultural patterns, which could pose concerns for food security in developing countries like India.

6. Lack of Financing Mechanism- COP 28 has failed to set up a financial mechanism to finance the Global Goal on Adaptation. The Draft of COP 28, did not express any concern over the failure of commitment on developed nations to provide $100 bn climate finance per year by 2020. The loss and Damage funding has been made voluntary.

7. Misuse of the loose definitions in the COP 28 Draft- The inclusion of the terms like “low-carbon fuels”, “low-emission” technologies, “low-carbon hydrogen”, and “transitional fuels”, can be misused by the EU and US as they use these terms to describe natural gas. Natural gas is a major fossil fuel and contributes to global warming and climate change.

8. No mention of CBDR- The term Collective But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) and Polluter’s pay principle have been missing from the draft of the COP 28.

What Should be the Way Forward?

Though the COP-28 has introduced new goals and pledges, substantial follow-up actions need to be undertaken to fulfil these goals.

1. Introduction of New Indicators- New tangible indicators need to be identified to measure progress on each of the global goals established at COP 28.

2. Establishment of Financial Mechanism- Financial mechanism to raise $500 bn as estimated by the UNCTAD must be established at the earliest. Developed nations must not be given leeway to cut down on their financial obligation.

3. Binding commitments– Efforts must be taken to make the renewable energy pledges binding on all the member countries.

4. Clarity on phase down of Fossil Fuel- Clarity on the timeline and targets for fossil fuel phase down must be on the highest agenda of the future COPs.

5. Climate Justice- Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR) must remain the guiding light in upcoming climate negotiations.

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