What to know about COP28

On November 30, COP28 will bring together world leaders, government officials, and civil society representatives from 198 countries—plus an estimated 70,000 delegates.?

COP28 AND THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY

In some ways, this is the biggest COP yet, with so much riding on leaders to make greater commitments to climate action during the conference.?

However, serious concerns have been raised about its host nation, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and their appointed COP28 president, Sultan Al Jaber.?

And as head of the UAE’s national oil company, ADNOC Drilling, (which is currently expanding fossil fuel production), many question the integrity of Al Jaber’s leadership as he oversees international deliberations on the future of our planet.?

With the UAE being one of the world’s ten largest oil producers, many point to the dangers of the fossil fuel industry infiltrating and greenwashing the world’s leading climate conference.?

And these concerns are not outlandish. In recently leaked documents, it was revealed that the UAE planned to use its role as the host of COP28 as an opportunity to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 other nations.?

Additionally, recent research showed that more than 7,200 attendees tied to the world’s biggest fossil fuel polluters and their trade groups have attended COP over the last 20 years, undermining climate negotiations with alternative agendas.

The clear conflicts of interest coming out of COP28 before it has even begun have stirred widespread contempt, with some global leaders and climate advocates protesting attendance this year—and some even questioning the integrity and viability of COP as a whole.?

CIVIL SOCIETY ACCESSIBILITY AT COP28

While COP is handing out accreditation to fossil fuel leaders like hotcakes, civil society and young advocates on the frontlines of the climate crisis continue to struggle to acquire visas, passes, and funding for the two-week event.

At Sustainable Ocean Alliance , we champion equal access for young people to attend global conferences—especially when it is their future being discussed. Yet, we continue to come face-to-face with restrictive access imposed by varying policies and procedures. Last year at COP27, access to certain venues was restricted, and peaceful protesting was severely surveilled and limited by onsite security. It is still to be seen how many of our youth will face barriers to entry this year.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT COP28

1. THE GLOBAL STOCKTAKE

Despite the many controversies surrounding COP28 this year, the conference will take place in Dubai as planned from November 30 to December 12, with a goal of addressing serious agenda items, including the world’s first ‘Global Stocktake’—a comprehensive assessment of progress towards the 1.5°C target mandated under the 2015 Paris Agreement.?

Released by the UN in September 2023, the Global Stocktake reveals that current progress made towards the Paris Agreement goals is insufficient and that ratifying nations are failing on their commitments to limit global warming to ‘well below’ 2oC above pre-industrial levels. If we continue business as usual, the report warns that global temperatures could reach a 3oC increase at current levels of greenhouse gas emissions unless urgent and drastic action is taken.

Despite the foreboding, the Global Stocktake is actually a good thing. It is the first assessment since the Paris Agreement to offer ratifiers a concrete analysis of their failings and, I say this with hope, a concrete roadmap forward to actually draw down their emissions and meet commitments in time.

2. THE LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND

In addition to the highly-anticipated discussions regarding the Global Stocktake, attending delegates are eagerly awaiting updates on the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP27 last year. This groundbreaking agreement plans to compensate nations suffering the most extreme impacts of the climate crisis already (while having contributed the least to causing it).

But since the initial announcement, wealthy countries—including the U.S. and European Union—have pushed back during this year’s negotiation meetings, leaving the fund’s organization and implementation unresolved. After dozens of challenging meetings, a draft agreement for the fund was finally reached earlier this month. Now, the agreement will be up for negotiations and final approval at COP28.

Additionally, EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra recently stated they’re “ready to announce a substantial financial contribution” to the fund, with details to be revealed at COP28…

While there are obvious reasons to be discouraged by what is to come at COP28, I remain hopeful with the knowledge that SOA will be on the ground in Dubai with leaders from our community as we continue our work to empower youth voices and accelerate ocean action during critical global conversations.?

Personally, I am most eager to see what the outcome of COP28 will be regarding the discussions of a rapid fossil fuel phaseout and progress on a sufficient and equitable Loss and Damage Fund.

As always, I’m interested to hear from you if you’ll be in attendance—from your experience of the conference to how accessible and inclusive it was and to what extent you encountered action over rhetoric.