Climate Change conference Cop 2023

The UN climate change conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will center on evaluating advancements in achieving the objectives set by the Paris Agreement.

What is COP?

COP, or ‘Conference of the Parties,’ designates a committee formed after the signing of an international treaty, with a focus on decision-making for treaty implementation. Widely recognized in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP meetings, held nearly annually since 1992, address strategies for combatting climate change and evaluating progress.

Each meeting is labeled by its sequential number, like COP26, and is presided over by a different country, often leading to a change in the host city. New agreements formed during COP are typically named after the host city, as exemplified by the 2015 Paris Agreement or the 2021 Glasgow Climate Pact.

Who is involved in COP?

Various attendees, including politicians, diplomats, and national government representatives, play key roles at COP, but their influence is not exclusive. Fossil fuel lobbyists aim to safeguard their industry, while land and environmental defenders advocate for protection against destructive industries.

Climate organizations, like Global Witness, push for swift action on the climate crisis. Barriers, both economic and legal, often hinder the full participation of environmental activists and civil society organizations.

What will be discussed at COP28 this year?

COP28’s primary focus is concluding the inaugural Global Stocktake (GST), a crucial mechanism for evaluating progress in meeting the Paris Agreement goals. Additionally, the UAE has outlined three additional priorities to enhance inclusivity and advance climate action during COP28.

fast-tracking the energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030;
transforming climate finance, by delivering on old promises and setting the framework for a new deal on finance; and
putting nature, people, live, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action

What are the contentious issues at this year’s COP?

On fossil fuels, we want to see countries pursuing the only option available to us: a complete phase-out of all fossil fuels – not just “unabated” ones. The UAE’s presidential priorities include a significant language change from previous years, referring to “the inevitable and responsible phase-down of all fossil fuels.”

We’ll be keeping an eye on whether the UAE meets its promise to host the “most inclusive” COP ever. Land and environmental defenders are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, the guardians of the world’s forests and biodiversity. We can’t solve the climate crisis if they continue to be denied a seat at the table. 

Finally, the climate finance discussions will be high on everyone’s watchlist.

Setting up the long-awaited loss and damage fund was a major achievement of COP27— now we’ll see if those funds materialize, but precedent suggests that this is far from guaranteed. In 2009, wealthy countries pledged to mobilize $100 billion per year by 2020 to help poorer countries shift to clean energy and adapt to future climate risks. But funds have consistently fallen short.

We’re watching to see if countries meet the goal agreed at COP26 to double finance to support countries to adapt to climate change by 2025.

What needs to happen

Urgent action is needed to save children’s lives amid the climate crisis, emphasizing building resilience in every child and young person, even as rapid emissions reduction remains the long-term solution.

Understanding the causes and taking defensive measures against the impacts of the climate crisis is essential for everyone.