Climate talks shift into high gear. Now words and definitions matter at COP28

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The momentum is shifting, and the sense of urgency is intensifying as the United Nations climate summit, known as COP28, enters its final week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a city built on oil. Every sentence and word, particularly those related to the future elimination of planet-warming fossil fuels, carries significant weight at this critical conference. Professional negotiators, who have been diligently preparing options, are now passing the baton to senior national officials, many at the ministerial level, who must make tough political decisions.

David Waskow, the International Climate Initiative Director for the World Resources Institute, anticipates a highly political process in the coming days. Access to the negotiating rooms will become limited, and negotiations will extend deep into the night, spanning multiple days.

Despite the challenges ahead, there is a sense of optimism among some participants. U.S. Special Envoy John Kerry acknowledges the complexities but highlights the efforts of negotiators to assemble relevant options within each section, which ministers will further refine next week.

Multilateral negotiations involving nearly 200 parties are considerably more intricate than bilateral talks between two countries, as noted by veteran diplomat Adnan Amin, the COP28 CEO.

A critical document called the Global Stocktake, which assesses progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement and outlines future steps to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, was released late Monday. Negotiators are carefully reviewing it, and officials like Amin expect to gain a clear understanding of where participants stand on the text by week’s end.

The climate talks have a distinctive rhythm, marked by hope, challenges, rumors, and eventual clarity in the negotiation process. The real intensity and excitement come during the phase of political engagement.

German special climate envoy Jennifer Morgan emphasizes that despite the initial complexity with numerous brackets indicating choices in the text, the process is proceeding as it should. EU negotiators are confident that the core document is in good shape, with key issues well-defined, and they expect a new text with amendments to be issued soon for ministerial-level discussions.

Several countries, including EU nations, small island states, and some progressive Latin American countries, advocate for a fossil fuel phase-out. While resistance is expected, officials are confident that references to fossil fuels will appear in the final text, aligned with U.N. science reports. Representatives from developing nations and climate advocates are pressuring negotiators on this front.

Wopke Hoekstra, the European Union climate commissioner, affirms their commitment to the phase-out, acknowledging that it will entail costs. However, questions about funding and fairness arise, particularly regarding wealthier countries like the United States and Canada, which are significant fossil fuel producers.

In addition to fossil fuel discussions, there are challenges in addressing adaptation issues. The second week of the conference is expected to be challenging, but the sense of urgency remains. Kerry emphasizes the need for adults to come together and make substantial progress to meet global expectations.

This critical juncture at COP28 will determine the future course of global climate action, with the world watching closely as leaders navigate complex negotiations and strive for meaningful agreements.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about COP28 Climate Conference

More about COP28 Climate Conference

• COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference
• Global Stocktake in Climate Negotiations
• The 2015 Paris Agreement
• United Nations Climate Change
• Climate Change and Fossil Fuels
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• World Resources Institute
• European Union Climate Action
• Climate Adaptation Measures