COP28- What did it Actually do?
From November 30th to December 12th, 2023, the 28th United Nations’ Conference of the Parties, the UN’s climate change conference, occurred in Dubai, abbreviated as COP28. Delegates from almost every country attended and shared their plans for tackling climate change, discussing their nation’s progress in that aim.
Climate change has had a drastic impact on the United States in the past year, with 28 weather disasters resulting in 1-billion-dollar damages to the country. Compared to 2022, which had 18 distinct billion-dollar weather disasters, and 2021, with 20 separate occurrences, it's apparent that climate change has worsened, causing increased harm to the United States. While these statistics focus on the U.S., many other nations have also serious harm due to climate change. Dramatic changes are needed to begin repairing the damage already done to the planet.
The four primary goals of COP28:
Keeping global temperature within 1.5 Degrees:
According to the pledge taken by over 130 governments, they aim to work together to triple the amount of installed renewable energy generation. However, the actionable steps in the full agreement appear vague and non-specific, using phrases like “collaborating to search for” and “enhancing capacity building.” Due to the lengthy time frames for these goals, there's a concern that when the timeline completes 10 years from now, necessary steps may not have been clearly defined and taken.
Addressing developing countries' indebtedness and financial reform:
Many national governments endorsed the UAE’s Declaration on a Global Climate Finance Framework, discussed at length during COP28. This highly specific document outlines targets for individual industries, solutions, and budget allocations, which seems crucial for addressing the current climate crisis.
Focus on people, lives, and livelihoods:
This portion attempts to sympathize with the people affected by climate change and its attached disasters. While attempts were made to help people this year (e.g., earthquake in Nepal, flooding in Rwanda), humanitarian efforts are deemed insufficient.
Maintaining Inclusivity and Acknowledging Impact on Vulnerable Communities:
COP28 did an excellent job highlighting the importance of all levels of society in the climate conversation.
However, it repeatedly emphasizes the phrase “Raise public awareness and encourage behavioral change,” aligning with the goal of this writing. Even small changes can make a big impact, so visit the UN site about COP28 that provides information on contributing through small actions.