Asif Khurshid
COP28 concluded with a landmark agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, triple renewable energy capacity, and bolster climate finance for vulnerable nations. This pact aims to uphold the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Despite falling short of some expectations, the agreement marks significant progress in addressing climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for decisive action in the face of escalating environmental, economic, and societal disruptions.
The conference’s achievements include a new framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation, operationalization of the loss and damage fund, and recognition of the necessity to phase out fossil fuels. While applauded, the agreement is viewed as a crucial starting point rather than the finish line. The declaration underscores the importance of rapid, deep, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with a focus on transitioning to renewable energy and enhancing global resilience through initiatives like universal early warning systems against extreme weather.
It ended with significant outcomes despite controversy. The summit saw the approval of a climate disaster “loss and damage fund” to aid vulnerable communities, though the pledged $700 million falls short of the estimated $400 billion in annual climate damage. The conference faced challenges over fossil fuel agreements, ultimately adopting a text urging a transition away from fossil fuels without explicitly calling for a “phase-out,” which experts argue lacks the necessary rigor.
The first Global Stocktake revealed countries lagging in their emission reduction goals, highlighting the urgency for new climate plans to meet the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The summit emphasized the need for more robust climate mitigation projects, with the next assessment slated for COP33 in 2028. Additionally, there was a push to triple reliance on renewable energy, but financial constraints, particularly in developing nations burdened by debt, remain a significant barrier.
Overall, COP28 made incremental progress on fossil fuel reduction and established a framework for addressing climate-related damages, but the outcomes underscore the need for stronger commitments and systemic financial reforms to achieve meaningful climate action.
At COP28, controversies included accusations against President Al-Jaber for allegedly denying climate science, though he claimed his remarks were misrepresented, with IPCC chair Jim Skea affirming Al-Jaber’s understanding of climate science. OPEC pressured members to reject any agreements targeting fossil fuels, framing anti-fossil fuel campaigns as politically motivated. Despite the UAE’s prohibition on demonstrations, protests occurred over the Israel-Gaza war and political prisoners, following a concession to allow peaceful climate activism. Additionally, a selfie of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, tagged “Melodi,” went viral, highlighting personal diplomacy at the summit.
COP 29 in Azerbijan
After several rounds of negotiations at COP28, Azerbaijan was announced as the host of COP29, scheduled for November 2024. Activists have already begun to criticize the decision over the country’s oil production and human rights record. Azerbaijan, while not part of OPEC, closely collaborates with the group in the OPEC+ offshoot which includes 11 additional countries.
