COP28 President Urges Urgent Climate Action in Closing Address at Pre-COP Conference
This pivotal moment played a crucial role in fostering consensus and laying the foundation for COP28.
Dubai, UAE - Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, President of COP28, delivered a passionate call to action during the closing address at the Pre-COP conference, setting the tone for the upcoming climate negotiations, writes Baboloki Semele.
With a resounding plea, he urged ministers and delegates from around the world to expedite progress made during the conference, emphasizing that there is no room for further delays in addressing the global climate crisis.
The two-day Pre-COP conference witnessed the participation of 70 ministers and 100 country delegates who convened to discuss the political aspects of the forthcoming COP28 negotiations.
This pivotal moment played a crucial role in fostering consensus and laying the foundation for COP28.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Al Jaber expressed optimism, stating, "Over the last two days, I have witnessed constructive dialogues on complex issues. We are approaching convergence in pivotal areas."
Dr. Al Jaber particularly acknowledged those who contributed to the initial outline of a decision on the global stocktake, which serves as the basis for upcoming negotiations.
However, the core message of his speech revolved around the urgency for parties to remain engaged, seek consensus, and take decisive action leading up to COP28.
Dr. Al Jaber emphasized, "Parties need to step up early, enabling us to facilitate the work towards a comprehensive decision. This decision must provide clear, practical guidance on addressing the gaps identified through the Global Stocktake."
One central theme of his address was the call for Parties to "take action and make the required commitments" in the realm of climate finance, a challenge that Dr. Al Jaber referred to as "one of the most significant obstacles to progress."
Dr. Al Jaber underscored the necessity for creating a "new ecosystem" that combats inequality in the Global South.
He urged Parties to introduce institutional reforms and focus on practical market mechanisms to mitigate risks and attract private investment.
The most impassioned plea from the COP28 President pertained to restoring confidence and trust in the delivery of climate finance. He emphasized, "This necessitates certainty regarding the $100 billion commitment, increased contributions to the Green Climate Fund, pledges to the adaptation fund, and early commitments to address loss and damage."
Dr. Al Jaber also stressed the importance of advancing in the area of loss and damage, highlighting it as a critical step towards protecting the world's most climate-vulnerable populations. He stated, "We must address the fund and funding mechanisms for loss and damage. We need to bridge gaps in three key areas: institutional arrangements, governance, and funding sources."
The remainder of Dr. Al Jaber's speech outlined his expectations of Parties in crucial areas, including expediting the transition to clean energy and advancing the Global Goal on Adaptation.
On the transition to clean energy, he asserted, "The question is no longer whether the energy transition will occur but when, how fast, and how inclusively it can be accomplished." Dr. Al Jaber acknowledged the contentious debates surrounding the inclusion of language related to fossil fuels and renewables in the negotiated text and encouraged delegates to continue this dialogue and come to COP28 prepared with solutions.
Regarding adaptation, he expressed concern that it was not receiving an equitable share of climate finance and had "lost its way." Dr. Al Jaber called for a unified objective, similar to the 1.5-degree target for mitigation, to guide efforts in adaptation.
He urged Parties to act on recommendations from Pre-COP, breaking down the Global Goal on Adaptation into themes for enhanced monitoring and progress tracking, and arrive at COP28 with tangible solutions.
In conclusion, Dr. Al Jaber reminded attendees of the significant work that lies ahead. He stressed the importance of using every day leading up to COP28 to advance progress on all fronts.
Dr. Al Jaber remarked, "We are at a pivotal point in our journey towards a successful outcome at COP28, which the world anticipates. Therefore, everything we do from this point forward must be about expediting action."
He concluded, "This entails working on advancing negotiations for concrete decisions and establishing the groundwork for action."
Pre-COP serves as a preparatory meeting for ministers and negotiators before the main climate conference. This year's event attracted record attendance, with more than double the typical number of participants for a Pre-COP.
Quick Facts about COP28:
Dates: November 30 to December 12, 2023
Venue: Expo City Dubai
Expected Participants: Over 70,000, including heads of state, government officials, industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors.
COP28 will deliver the first-ever Global Stocktake, assessing progress against climate goals, as mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement.
The UAE will lead the process to establish a clear roadmap for an accelerated global energy transition and inclusive climate action.
The four pillars of the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda are fast-tracking the energy transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on people, lives, and livelihoods, and ensuring full inclusivity.