3 Weeks To Go

The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC will be held in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December 2023. In this newsletter, M2S selects and shares articles to keep you informed on preparations and perspectives, with a special focus on the wider Arabian Gulf. Drop us a line in case you will be at COP28 and would like to learn more about our company.

COP28 Presidency and WFP call for action to reduce humanitarian needs. Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme and Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, called for urgent action to scale up climate action in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Their call comes ahead of the COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace which will be officially launched on 3 December during COP28.?

China makes ‘opening play’ on methane policy ahead of UN climate summit. China has set out a plan to take more "forceful" action to tackle methane and has pledged to track and reduce harmful emissions from the global warming gas. China is the world's largest producer of methane, and the pledge came at the tail-end of a four-day US visit by China's climate envoy Xie Zhenhua. The statement did not specify any definitive targets for emissions cuts.

UK softens stance on fossil fuels ahead of COP28. The UK's Energy and Climate Minister said that he was not fixated on whether countries should “phase down” or “phase out” fossil fuels, as long as the COP agreement “translates into real action”. This represents a significant change in direction, shifting away from the tougher position of the EU. The statement follows the UK Prime Minister's earlier announcement to roll back the UK’s net zero targets.

Bloomberg Report: EU wants COP28 host UAE to contribute to climate fund. The EU reportedly plans to push the UAE to financially contribute to a fund that will help poorer countries pay for the damage caused by extreme weather. Bloomberg suggested that the move would be a signal to countries that emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide, such as Saudi Arabia and China, to help pay for climate-related loss and damage.

COP Presidency sends letter clarifying process towards COP28 outcomes. Sultan Al Jaber writes that the recently concluded Pre-COP in Abu Dhabi saw positive engagement and progress on the political building blocks essential for joint success at COP28. Given the limited time frame of COP, he encourages delegates to have the difficult conversations in the coming weeks, "show flexibility, and foster a sense of shared trust and understanding".

Over 60 countries back deal to triple renewable energy this decade. More than 60 countries have said they back a deal spearheaded by the EU, the US and the UAE to triple renewable energy this decade and shift away from coal, two officials familiar with the matter told Reuters. A draft of the pledge also commits those who sign it to doubling the world's annual rate of improving energy efficiency to 4% per year until 2030.

POLITICO: UN climate summit host pushes oil producers for advance deal. The UAE is using its leverage as an oil producer and host of the upcoming UN climate talks to prod some of the world’s state-run oil companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, according to POLITICO. The effort, dubbed the Global Decarbonization Alliance, is intended to be unveiled as a side deal to the main conference, separate from the diplomatic text to address climate change.

Emirates Energy Forum pushes energy transition and decarbonization agenda. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, stated that the UAE's goal is to ensure the energy trilemma of security, affordability and sustainability is equally balanced as a net-zero world is being built. The forum saw the release of the UAE State of Energy Report 2022/2023 and the official launch of the UAE National Hydrogen Strategy.

John Kerry: US and China reach “understandings” ahead of COP28. The US Special Presidential Climate Envoy reflected on the recent four days of bilateral talks with China. He noted common ground on loss and damage, which would allow any country to contribute (voluntarily) to a fund to support the regions the most vulnerable to climate impacts. When asked about whether or not an agreement on coal could be found with China, Kerry said “you wait and see”.

IRC: How COP28 can address injustices facing climate-affected countries. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), suggests global leaders can contribute to the achievement of climate justice by, among other things, commit to improving risk mapping of conflict-affected communities, invest in innovative adaptation, resilience and anticipatory action designed for conflict settings, and make climate finance more equitable and accessible to adequately resource action.

FT Opinion: "COP28 faces a giant communication challenge". The author writes that the climate talks in Dubai will take place amid a confluence of geopolitical , health and economic emergencies. To shift public opinion and generate political will for climate action amid competing priorities, communication of climate science needs traction. The summit should therefore launch a global campaign to inform the public and rally political support.

Religious leaders call for rapid shift to clean energy and accountability. During a two-day global faith leaders' summit, 28 faith leaders signed the Abu Dhabi Interfaith Statement for COP28. The statement “demands transformative action to keep 1.5°C within reach and serve affected and vulnerable communities”. The Climate Summit in Dubai will also for the first time feature a visit from the Pope and the presence of a Faith Pavilion.

Launch of M2S News Radar - UAE Edition

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