COP-28 - ENVIRONMENT

COP-28 - ENVIRONMENT

News: COP28 President-designate praises India for its energy transition vision

 

What's in the news?

●       COP28 President-designate Dr. Sultan Al Jaber praised India, the current hosts of the Presidency of the G20, for its energy transition vision even as he acknowledged the critical need for a “new paradigm” in climate finance to ensure every country across the global south adopts low carbon development.

 

Key takeaways:

●       The UAE and India shared a “vision for embracing an energy transition in line with sustainable socio-economic development,” Mr. Al Jaber said at the ‘From G20 to COP28’ special forum held at Abu Dhabi.

 

COP28:

●       COP28 (Conference of Parties 28) stands for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, under UNFCCC which is scheduled to take place in Nov – Dec 2023.

●       This event is a global gathering where representatives from almost 200 countries convene to discuss and negotiate policies and actions to combat climate change.

 

Objective:

●       The primary objective of COP28 is to address the pressing issues of climate change, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change impacts, and mobilizing financial resources for climate action.

●       The conference provides a platform for countries to set climate targets, share effective practices, and pledge commitments to fight climate change.

●       Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has recently been appointed as the new President of COP 28.

 

Background:

UNFCCC:

  1. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), signed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development also known as the Earth Summit, the Rio Summit or the Rio Conference.
  2. India is among the select few countries to have hosted the COP of all three Rio conventions on climate change (UNFCCC), biodiversity (Convention on Biological Diversity) and land (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification).
  3. The UNFCCC entered into force on 21st March 1994, and has been ratified by 197 countries.
  4. It is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Agreement. It is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
  5. The UNFCCC secretariat (UN Climate Change) is the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change. It is located in Bonn, Germany.

Objective:

●       To achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous repercussions within a time frame so as to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally and enable sustainable development.

 

The Conference of the Parties (COP):

  1. COP is the apex decision-making authority of UNFCCC.
  2. The COP meets every year, unless the Parties decide otherwise. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995.
  3. The COP meets in Bonn, the seat of the secretariat, unless a Party offers to host the session.
  4. The office of the COP President normally rotates among the five United Nations regional groups which are - Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe and Others.
  5. The President is usually the environment minister of his or her home country. S/he is elected by acclamation immediately after the opening of a COP session.

 

Highlighting the Key Points emphasized by the COP28 president-designate Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber:

  1. Methane Emissions and Net-Zero Plans:

●       He has urged the oil and gas industry to eradicate methane emissions by 2030 completely and align their operations with net-zero emission plans by 2050.

●       He stressed the importance of reducing and ultimately eliminating the carbon intensity of hydrocarbon usage, given their continued global consumption.

●       Methane emissions are one of the leading contributors to global warming, with fossil fuel operations accounting for more than a third of all human-generated methane emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

●       Therefore, tackling methane emissions is seen as one of the most effective actions that the energy sector can take to combat climate change.

  1. Inclusive Energy Transition and Climate Justice:

●       He highlighted the vital role that developing countries play in the battle against climate change.

●       He advocates for an inclusive energy transition and climate justice, ensuring that developing nations are not left behind.

●       There is a need to develop and implement new technologies for effective climate action and energy transition worldwide.

  1. Maximizing Technology Adoption and Climate Finance:

●       Developing countries should not be left behind in technology adoption, as they represent a significant portion of the world’s population.

●       The public, multilateral, and private sectors need to enhance climate finance to make it more available, accessible, and affordable.

●       Technology is essential in helping vulnerable communities build capacities and transition to a low-carbon economic development model.

  1. Renewable Energy Capacity and Hydrocarbons:

●       He advocates for a rapid increase in global renewable energy capacity, aiming to triple it to 11,000 GW by 2030 and double it again by 2040.

●       He acknowledges that hydrocarbons still play a necessary role as a bridge to a new energy system.

●       Reducing the carbon footprint, investing in low-carbon-intensive barrels of oil, and reducing intensity are crucial for hydrocarbon usage.

  1. Carbon Capture Technologies and Industrial Emissions:

●       He emphasizes the need to seriously consider carbon capture technologies to achieve realistic net-zero emissions scenarios.

●       Policy incentives should be in place to encourage technology companies to commercialize various carbon capture methods.

●       The expansion of carbon capture technologies and the transformation of captured carbon into usable products can contribute to emission reduction.

  1. Breakthroughs in Battery Storage, Nuclear Energy, and Fusion:

●       Continued advancements in battery storage technology are crucial for integrating renewable energy sources.

●       He supports the expansion of nuclear energy and investment in new energy pathways like fusion.

●       A focus on agricultural technology is necessary as food systems and agriculture contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions.