Reflections on COP 28: Assessing Global Climate Efforts, Youth Empowerment, and the Path Forward
Author: Elizabeth Gulugulu
The Global Stocktake on Climate Change has concluded, marking a significant milestone in the battle against climate change by assessing global efforts towards a low carbon economy. This process concluded during the 28th session of the Conference Of Parties (COP 28) held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This year’s COP was again hosted in the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) which is considered one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change impacts worldwide. The MENA region experiences high temperatures, rising sea levels, droughts, floods, severe water scarcity and polluted air as highlighted by the World Bank. Hosting such meetings in countries like Egypt and the UAE enables us to witness and comprehend the effects of climate change. It serves as a reminder, for everyone, that climate change is an urgent reality.
This year marked my sixth year of participating in UN Climate Change Conferences. I witnessed increased participation from children and youth, not only in protests but also within the negotiation rooms actively supporting the process, organizing side events, and leading innovations at the blue zone and green zone. The dynamic involvement of young people was prominently showcased in various pavilions, such as the Children and Youth Pavilion, where all events were curated by young people for young people. Other significant youth participation were observed at the Youth Climate Champions Pavilion and the Climate Live Pavilion, to name just a few. The engagement of young voices in various forums demonstrated a commitment to driving positive change and holding leaders accountable for decisions made at COP 28. Some key highlights of COP 28 include;
The Global Stocktake, a phase down or a phase out?
On December 11, 2023, around 11 pm UAE time, a meeting took place with various parties, extending beyond midnight as negotiators expressed concerns about the draft text of the Global Stocktake, which had been shared earlier in the day. The primary focus of the discussions was on equity, with considerable debate about the perceived weakness of the text. However, the discussions were not evenly balanced, as the majority of countries from the Global South emphasized aspects such as financial flows, technology transfer, and means of implementation to fulfill commitments highlighted in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Most Global South countries and Arab nations supported the phasing down of fossil fuels in the name of equity and emphasizing on a just transition. They highlighted that oil and coal are natural resources, if not managed properly, they could become stranded assets, adversely affecting economies. In contrast, some Global North countries presented robust arguments in favor of a fossil fuel phase-out to limit the planet’s average temperature rise to within 1.5°C. The discussions at the meeting reflected divergent perspectives on how to address climate change and achieve a balance between environmental concerns and economic considerations. The outcome text of the Global Stocktake (GST) mentions the need to ‘accelerate efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power.’ However, some view this wording as notably weak and falling considerably short of fulfilling the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement. For some, the Global Stocktake is a historic moment, as it marks the first time a COP decision outcome has mentioned ‘fossil fuel.’ The actual text reads, ‘transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly, and equitable manner…’
Launch of the first Youth Stocktake Report
The Youth Stocktake of UNFCCC Processes Report was launched on Youth Day during COP 28. This report is groundbreaking, representing a historic moment in the history of youth participation in UNFCCC processes. It is an initiative by YOUNGO, the Children and Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC, with support from the Youth Climate Champion’s Team. The primary objective behind publishing the report was to document the evolution of youth climate change policy engagement through YOUNGO processes, particularly at Local, Regional, and Global Conferences Of Youth. Additionally, the report aims to analyze the ‘feeding-in’ process leading to the Global Youth Statement. It also reviews the inclusion of youth by Parties, Party responses to youth inputs, and provides key recommendations for integrating the Youth Stocktake into future Global Stocktake (GST) processes.
The 102-paged document features best practices from countries showcasing meaningful youth engagement. Italy is highlighted for supporting the Youth4Climate initiative, among others opening up funding to fifty youth-led teams in 2023 for the realization of their climate projects. Barbados is another country demonstrating leadership in youth inclusion by presenting a smart sustainable climate plan. It has established a secretariat for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a ‘three-pronged approach’ to tackle climate change, focusing on policy, engagement, education, and outreach, with youth and youth-led community groups as key partners. The report also delves into the logistical aspects of the children and youth pavilion, the role of youth envoys, and youth participation in climate-related committees and boards.
Money for Loss and Damage Fund, is it enough?
The Loss and Damage Fund was established at COP 27 last year in Egypt with the objective of supporting vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters. This year at COP 28 there were pledges from developed countries. Pledges to the Loss and Damage Fund have reached a sum of more than USD 700 million. Contributors to the pledge include the European Union, Italy, France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and many more. The UN commissioned report states that losses and damages could be as high as 150–300bn by 2030, hence more is expected and more should be done by developed countries. According to the UNFCCC, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the UN Office for Project Services will host the secretariat of the Santiago Network, which aims to avert, minimize and address loss and damage from the impacts of climate change.
The World Bank has been invited to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund as a financial intermediary (FIF), the bank is currently managing 26 FIFs, and its portfolio continues to expands, Brenda Mwale, Loss and Damage Junior negotiator from Malawi, highlighted, “The Loss and Damage Fund has not been operationalized yet. As of COP28, only the adoption of the Transitional Committee 5 report was completed. This adoption comes with a set of requirements that the World Bank should meet. Once that is finalized, only then will the fund be operationalized. If the World Bank cannot meet these requirements, it means COP29 will have to facilitate the conversation of finding another host. Pledges are there, but they can’t be disbursed, and Climate Change Impacts in our communities will not wait for all these processes to be finalized.”
The institutionalization of the Youth Climate Champion’s Office
As a way to enhance the meaningful participation and representation of youth in future COPs, Parties agreed to institutionalize the role of the Presidency Youth Climate Champion (PYCC) within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. This role seeks to ensure continuity in the role of the Presidency Youth Climate Champion, the Youth Climate Champion will serve as the presidency representative for up to two years. During the second year of the term, the outgoing Youth Climate Champion will provide support to the successor appointed by the incoming presidency. According to Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, the COP28 Youth Climate Champion, ‘COP28 has been a groundbreaking COP for youth inclusion, with unprecedented initiatives that have put children and young people at the heart of the climate action process. We have delivered transformative change that will stand as a lasting legacy for future COPs’’ The Youth Climate Champion’s Office will be in force in 2024 — something to look out for in the coming year.
As we look forward to COP 29, scheduled to be hosted by Azerbaijan in November 2024, we eagerly await the continuation of discussions, particularly on Article 6. At present, the new high-integrity carbon crediting mechanisms remain non-operational since consensus couldn’t be reached on their regulation. The youth constituency proposed the establishment of an energy negotiation track in Dubai, and advocacy on this matter is expected to continue in Azerbaijan. Observer constituencies also look forward to actions being put in place to reduce the financial gap and ensure commitments and pledges by developed countries are fulfilled. At COP 28 civil society organizations protested against the significant presence of fossil fuel interests and emphasized the need for disclosure and accountability policies to be put in place. The unfolding of this topic will be something to look out for in Azerbaijan. As the curtains have fallen down on COP 28 we now look forward to collaborative actions and continued commitment to meet the outcomes of the GST whilst advancing the global climate agenda.
Now, we would like to hear from you Climate Champions, were your expectations met at COP 28? Join the conversation and share your reflections with us on theY4C platform!
