New Delhi: As the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will kick off on, Thursday the diplomatic heat is rising as all eyes turn to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
As Global temperatures continue to reach record levels, the world leaders gather to chart an ambitious way forward in the global fight against climate change.
During the 12-day conference, over 60,000 people are expected to attend COP28, including delegates from member states of the UNFCCC, industry leaders, youth activists, representatives of indigenous communities, journalists, and other stakeholders.
UN climate conferences are large-scale annual gatherings focused on climate action. They are also referred to as COPs Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The operationalisation of the Loss and Damage fund, securing $100 billion in climate finance annually, and the implementation of Paris Agreement among other top issues likely to dominate the conference.
Another development that is expected to take center stage at COP28 is the tripling of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
COP28 will provide us with a reality check – a culmination of a process called ”Global Stocktake” on how far the world has come in tackling the climate crisis and how much of a course correction is needed.
The first global stocktake, which began at COP26 in Glasgow, will conclude in Dubai. The process is designed to help identify what more still needs to be done and guide countries toward more ambitious and accelerated climate action plans.
So, the decision adopted by the parties at COP28 could emerge as the most consequential outcome following the 2015 Paris Conference.
Why COP28 assumes more significance:-
The science is clear that it is still possible to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C and avoid the worst of climate change but only with dramatic, immediate climate action”, which includes:
A 45 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, Achieving global net zero emissions by 2050, A “just and equitable transition” from fossil fuels (oil and gas) to renewable energy sources, Increased investments in adaptation and resilience to climate disruption.
However, the UNFCCC’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) synthesis report released in November shows that the world is failing to get “a grip on the climate crisis”.
Almost eight years after the Paris Agreement and halfway through the 2030 Agenda, COP28 is a timely opportunity to embark upon a new path towards effective climate action.
As several UN reports show, the world is not on track to meeting the Paris Agreement’s goals, but the hope is that governments at COP28 will lay out a roadmap to accelerate climate action.
Despite the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius, with efforts to keep it to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world has already warmed by 1.1 degrees Celsius.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that greenhouse gas emissions must reduce by 43 percent by 2030 from 2019 levels to meet the 1.5-degree target. COP28 marks a crucial juncture in global climate discussions, with decisions made here significantly impacting efforts to address climate change.
History Conference of the Parties:-
The conference of the parties is the group of nations that have signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was put together in 1992.
The first UN Climate conference was held in Berlin, Germany in 1995. The most iconic meeting COP15 was held in 2015, where countries approved the Paris Agreement.
This landmark deal under which each country was to submit its own pledges on emissions reductions and adaptation measures, in a collective effort to keep global warming “well below 2 degrees Celsius” compared with pre-industrial levels. They also set the aspirational target of keeping warming within 1.5C.
Achievement of COP
COP summit laid the Kyoto Protocol, a milestone international treaty established in 1997. The protocol aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming by setting binding targets for industrialized countries to limit their emissions.
Kyoto Protocol proved as a significant step in global efforts to address climate change by legally binding developed countries to emission reduction targets. Paris Agreement: – The Paris Agreement, enforced on 4th Nov, 2016 is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015.
The motto was to edge the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Steps taken by India against climate change
Despite not having legally binding emission reduction targets, India has been actively engaged in addressing climate change and implementing measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi articulated “Panchamrit” on India’s climate action at the 26th session of the COP 26 held in Glasgow, United Kingdom. This Includes commitment towards
Reaching 500GW Non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, Sourcing 50 % of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.
Reduction of total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now to 2030, Reduction of the carbon intensity of the economy by 45 percent by 2030, over 2005 levels, To attain net zero emissions by 2070.
India has prioritized sustainable development projects like renewable energy targets, promoting energy efficiency, and implementing emissions reduction policies, to achieve its climate goals.
