The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP28 (the 28th Conference of Parties), is a yearly event that brings together representatives from countries worldwide to tackle the challenges of climate change.
COP28 will be held in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December. We prepared this short guide to allow you to follow the news and understand the discussion.
*Terms that are marked in bold are explained in the glossary at the end of the page.
Some background
In 2015, the nations of the world came together to discuss and agree on steps to jointly tackle climate change. 196 countries signed an international treaty known as the Paris Agreement (or Paris Accord) agreeing on actions that include mitigation, adaptation and finance. This was a significant step forward in which the world declared a goal to limit global warming to 2C, on average, and preferably 1.5C compared to the pre-industrial era. This limit is considered by scientists to be the threshold that will allow humanity to avoid the most devastating consequences of climate change.
Expectations from COP28
COP28 is the 28th COP where countries will evaluate the actions and achievements taken to mitigate climate change so far. Key stakeholders such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and academics will also attend to assess whether we are collectively making enough progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.
This process is referred to as the Global Stocktake. It means looking at “the inventory” of climate actions and support, identifying the gaps in progress, and working together to improve and accelerate climate action. The stocktake takes place every five years, with the first-ever stocktake set to conclude at COP28.
The current trajectory of global emissions is not consistent with limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. With the window for meaningful change closing, the Global Stocktake process is considered crucial. Following COP28, governments will be expected to accelerate change and become more ambitious in their next round of climate action plans due in 2025.
What about climate justice?
In addition, during COP27, countries agreed to establish “loss and damage” funding for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters but there is still disagreement about its organisation. There is an expectation that the mechanism will be discussed and agreed during COP28.
Oxford and COP28
A range of Oxford academics will present their research during COP28.
Here are a few opportunities to engage:
Glossary
Climate Change
A long-term shift in weather and temperature patterns, also known as global warming, the ongoing increase in global average temperature. The current rise in global average temperature is caused by human activity causing higher concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily from burning fossil fuels.
Greenhouse gas
Gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, that can absorb and trap heat which results in raised average global surface temperatures.
Mitigation
Mitigation refers to actions taken to stop or slow climate change and its effects, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Examples of mitigation steps include diverting to clean energy sources such as solar or wind energy and reducing emissions from transportation (eg promoting the use of electric cars).
Adaptation
Adaptation refers to actions taken to build resilience against the current effects of climate change, such as building sea walls to protect against sea-level rise.
Paris Agreement
The 2015 agreement between 196 countries to limit warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
1.5 degrees
1.5° Celsius of average global warming is considered by scientists to be the threshold beyond which climate change will cause catastrophic effects.
Global Stocktake
A process that was introduced in the Paris Agreement to occur every five years. It means looking at everything related to where individual parties (states) and the international community stand on climate action, identifying the gaps and working together to agree on solution pathways.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - an international treaty to combat the “dangerous human interference with the climate system” (ie climate change). The Framework was established in 1992 during the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit.
References
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
Greenhouse gas | Definition, Emissions, & Greenhouse Effect | Britannica
Global Stocktake | UNFCCC
