Context
As the world grapples with the repercussions of a year marked by unprecedented climate events, the international community turns its gaze towards the United Nations conference in the UAE, less than two weeks away. Against the backdrop of record-breaking global temperatures and extreme weather worldwide, including Greek wildfires and Libyan floods intensified by global warming, the urgency of tackling the climate crisis is more pressing than ever.
Importance of COP28
COP28 holds particular significance as it hosts the inaugural Global Stocktake, a five-yearly assessment crucial for evaluating global progress in mitigating climate change under the Paris Agreement. This year’s conference is hosted by the UAE on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group, an oil and gas producing country with one of the world’s highest emissions rates per capita, putting a spotlight on issues of fossil fuel production, phaseout, and just transition.
The controversial appointment of Sultan Al Jaber, managing director of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, as the Presidency Designate, amplifies concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
COP28 is kicking off amid the escalating conflict in Gaza and Israel, following Hamas’ attacks and a response by Israeli forces, resulting in significant humanitarian impacts and casualties. In response CAN has called for a ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and adherence to humanitarian law.
In this challenging geopolitical landscape, the EU is called upon to demonstrate leadership among developed nations, fostering climate ambition and upholding commitments to global climate justice.
The EU’s role
The EU negotiates as a block at the UNFCCC. The Council, supported by the Commission, has outlined its position and priorities via the following agreements by EU Ministers:
- Environment Council Conclusions on COP28 on 16 October
- Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) Conclusions on Climate Finance on 17 October
In addition, the European Parliament, while it does not have formal negotiating power at UNFCCC, does send a delegation to the COP and has begun the process of adopting a resolution, starting with the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Resolution on 7 November on COP28. This Resolution, significantly more ambitious than the Environment Council and ECOFIN Council conclusions in areas such as climate finance, loss and damage, moving away from fossil fuels and the EU’s own mitigation, will be put to a vote during the plenary session on 21 November.
This COP, the EU needs to uphold its commitments to international environmental justice and put human rights and CSO participation at the centre. The EU should seek to build stronger alliances with partner countries, especially climate vulnerable ones, through equitable approaches to the Global Stocktake, mitigation and energy goals, loss and damage, adaptation and finance and seek synergies between them.
Read the media briefing here
Find out more
Ahead of COP28, CAN Europe will be hosting an X (Twitter) Space. This interactive session will feature our director and policy experts, delving into crucial topics surrounding COP28 and providing insights on what to expect from the Conference.
Date: Thursday, 23rd Nov, 2023
Time: 11:30 am CET
RSVP Link: https://x.com/i/spaces/
Get in touch
A delegation of CAN Europe will attend COP28 in Dubai. If you have requests, or questions or you would like informal chats with CAN Europe’s director or policy experts, either in Dubai or remotely, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Please let us know if you will be in Dubai, and feel free to share your phone number for Signal, WhatsApp, or Telegram.
Contacts
- Seden Anlar, Communication Coordinator: +32 488581260; seden.anlar@caneurope.org
