The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place in Glasgow, Scotland, from 31 October to 12 November 2023. It was a crucial summit that aimed to accelerate global action on climate change and to finalize the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015.
The main outcomes of COP28 were:
The Glasgow Climate Pact, which updated the Paris Agreement with new commitments and rules on mitigation, adaptation, finance, transparency, and global stocktake. The pact also included a new goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and a request for countries to submit more ambitious nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by the end of 2024.
The Glasgow Climate Finance Package, which mobilized $100 billion per year from developed countries to support developing countries in their climate actions. The package also included a new mechanism for loss and damage, which recognized the need to address the impacts of climate change that are beyond adaptation.
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The Glasgow Energy Transition Initiative, which launched a global coalition of governments, businesses, and civil society to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. The initiative also announced a series of pledges and partnerships on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean transport.
The Glasgow Forests and Land Use Alliance, which brought together more than 100 countries and organizations to protect and restore forests and other natural ecosystems. The alliance committed to halting and reversing deforestation by 2030, and to enhancing carbon sinks and biodiversity.
The Glasgow Adaptation Action Coalition, which enhanced cooperation and support for adaptation and resilience. The coalition launched a global adaptation goal, a global adaptation network, and a global adaptation summit.
These outcomes represent significant progress in the global response to climate change, but they are not enough to avoid the worst impacts of the crisis. According to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world is already experiencing unprecedented changes in temperature, precipitation, sea level, ice cover, and extreme events. These changes are affecting human health, food security, water availability, ecosystems, and livelihoods.
To limit global warming to 1.5°C, the world needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. This requires urgent and transformative actions from all sectors and actors. Some of the key actions that need to happen now are:
Strengthening the implementation and ambition of NDCs. Countries need to translate their NDCs into concrete policies and measures that can deliver rapid and deep emission reductions. They also need to update their NDCs every five years with higher targets and more robust plans.
Scaling up climate finance and technology transfer. Developed countries need to fulfill their commitment of providing $100 billion per year by 2020 and increase their support beyond that level. Developing countries need to access and utilize climate finance effectively and efficiently. Both groups need to enhance cooperation on technology development and diffusion.
Enhancing adaptation and resilience. All countries need to integrate adaptation into their development plans and policies and invest in building adaptive capacity and reducing vulnerability. They also need to support the most vulnerable countries and communities in coping with loss and damage.
Engaging non-state actors and stakeholders. Governments need to work with businesses, investors, cities, regions, civil society, indigenous peoples, youth, women, and other groups that are taking action on climate change. They need to create enabling environments for their participation and contribution, and foster partnerships and coalitions for collective impact.
COP28 was a historic moment for the world to come together and act on climate change. But it was not the end of the journey. It was only the beginning of a new phase of enhanced cooperation and action. The success of COP28 depends on how well we follow up on our commitments and promises. We have no time to waste. We have no planet B. We have only one chance to get it right.