As global leaders prepare to participate
in the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP28 (the 28th
Conference of the Parties) in Dubai, starting this Thursday, United States
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry stated not everybody is doing
what they promised, and emphasized the need for accountability during this year’s
COP.
He expressed concern about the lack of
follow-through by some nations. “…We know from the IEA (International
Energy Agency) that if all the promises of Glasgow were fulfilled and all the
promises of Sharma el-Sheikh were fulfilled, you could be by 2050 at either 1.8
degrees or 1.7 degrees.
So it shows that with this effort,
things could be within grasp. They’re not completely for the simple reason that
not everybody is doing what they promised to do. And needless to say, that’s a
problem. And we need to have accountability at this COP for that lack of follow-through
by some.”
“Those three mandated issues are, first
of all, the global stocktake, which will be a very important document in our
judgment. Secondly, the adaptation report that will be coming through and
thirdly, the standing up of the loss and damage fund itself.
“In addition, it provides further
guidance going forward to advance the Paris Agreement’s goal of adaptation. I
want to underscore, that I think this global stocktake needs to earn the
credibility of the world by being candid, strong, visionary, and comprehensive.
It needs to lay out for the world what’s happened since Paris.
The measurement of the stock date begins
with Paris and it goes forward from there…But strong decisions in those three
areas that I mentioned are a key measurement of the success of this COP, the
potential success of this COP,” stated the climate envoy.
Additionally, Kerry mentioned a major
focus on methane during this year’s summit, involving efforts from oil and gas
companies, and countries, and a special initiative by China and the United
States.
“…Methane, as you know, is responsible
for 50 per cent of the global warming that’s taken place. In addition to that,
it is far more damaging and far more destructive than Co2. Because methane is
in its early years, within the first 20 years, 80 to 100 times more
destructive, and in the later years, it is about 20 times more destructive. So
we also think it’s the easiest, quickest, fastest cheapest way to begin to get
gains against the warming. So there’ll be a major focus on methane. We’ll be
focused on shipping through the Green Shipping Challenge,” he said.
Kerry also confirmed Washington’s
support for the consensus reached at COP27 last year in Sharm el-Sheikh
regarding the Loss and Damage Fund.
He clarified, “…it (consensus) was
reached earlier this month on recommending how you operationalize the funding
arrangements for this fund, and how we will respond in a way that the
vulnerable and most affected countries feel like the fund is actually
helpful…and capable of making a difference. So, this fund, the way it’s
designed, will meet the needs of vulnerable countries. We worked hard with our
partners to propose ways in which this fund can be stood up quickly but
confidently by using the World Bank as the repository, initially and
temporarily…”
“The fund does not represent any
expression of liability or compensation or any sort of new legal requirement.
But it is going to try to be there for those in the developing world who’ve
taken some of the brunt and whose citizens are in many cases threatened as the
consequence of not being able to adapt or build out resilience. We actively
worked very hard to create it, and we will continue to be supportive,” he
pointed out.
Outlining the prominent roles at COP28, Kerry
stated, “We’ll also be working to highlight and generate increased support for
the all-in-global finance mobilisation effort and finance will take a very
prominent role at this cop, partly because of the changes we’ve been able to
make at the World Bank, and partly because of new initiatives that are going to
be announced in order to accelerate the transition on a global basis.
And finally, we’re going to be
refocusing effort and energy on the 1.5 degrees, which is the critical
guidepost for all of us here. There’ll be efforts on mitigation, on the
innovation frontier, particularly with respect to agriculture and other
sectors. It’s safe to say that there literally be hundreds of initiatives that
will be announced, many of them coming from United States, many coming from
other parts of the world…”
Acknowledging the impact on African
nations, Kerry emphasized, “Well, we are keenly aware of the degree to which
Africa bears the enormous brunt of the climate crisis on a global basis. I
mean, Africa is among the hardest hit. It is the least likely contributor to
the problem. So I think we all sense a very special relationship there and a
need to respond to what is happening.”
The World Climate Action Summit, the
High-Level Segment of COP28, is scheduled from November 30 to December 12 under
the UAE’s presidency in Dubai.
The host country hopes for a deal on
tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, focusing on
phasing out fossil fuels, climate finance, and the Global Goal on Adaptation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend
the summit, having announced specific climate targets during COP26 in Glasgow.
His visit includes bilateral meetings with leaders, and it’s at the invitation
of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
ANI
