What is COP28 in Dubai and why is it important?

COP28 is the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting where governments will discuss how to limit and prepare for future climate change.

The summit is being held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 30 November until 12 December 2023.

COP stands for “Conference of the Parties”, where the “parties” are the countries that signed up to the original UN climate agreement in 1992.

Why is holding COP28 in Dubai controversial?

The UAE is one of the world’s top 10 oil-producing nations. It has appointed the chief executive of the state-owned oil company, Sultan Al Jaber, president of the COP28 talks.

Oil – like gas and coal – is a fossil fuel. These are the main causes of climate change because they release planet-warming greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide when burned for energy. But Mr Al Jaber’s oil company plans to expand production capacity. “It is the equivalent of appointing the CEO of a cigarette company to oversee a conference on cancer cures,” campaign group 350.org said.

Mr Al Jaber argues he is uniquely well-placed to push for action from the oil and gas industry, and that as chairman of renewable energy firm Masdar, he has also overseen the expansion of clean technologies like wind and solar power.

Why is COP28 important?

It is hoped COP28 will help keep alive the goal of limiting long-term global temperature rises to 1.5C. This was agreed by nearly 200 countries in Paris in 2015.

The 1.5C target is crucial to avoid the most damaging impacts of climate change, according to the UN’s climate body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Long-term warming currently stands at about 1.1C or 1.2C compared with pre-industrial times – the period before humans started burning fossil fuels at scale.

However, the world is on track for about 2.5C of warming by 2100 even with current pledges to tackle emissions. The window for keeping the 1.5C limit in reach “rapidly narrowing”, the UN says.

What will be discussed at COP28?

As well as progress towards the existing Paris goals, COP28 will concentrate on:

fast-tracking the move to clean energy sources, to “slash” greenhouse gas emissions before 2030
delivering money for climate action from richer to poorer countries, and working on a new deal for developing nations
focusing on nature and people
making COP28 the “most inclusive” ever

There will also be themed days on issues including health, finance, food and nature.

This news was firstly published at BBC News.

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