In this podcast we talk about the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP28 – which took place in Dubai in December, and which marked a the latest milestone in the global effort to address climate change and put our societies on a path towards a sustainable future. The conference was held against the backdrop of increasingly alarming scientific reports, emphasising the need for immediate and decisive action to limit global temperature rise and protect the planet’s ecosystems.
COP28 marked the culmination of the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement, recognising that the world is not currently on track to reduce emissions by the necessary level to limit temperature increase to 1.5 Celsius. COP28 eventually adopted a decision calling for accelerated short-term action and an orderly transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems. Parties also agreed to take action to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030 and set the world on a pathway to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, in line with the best available science.
This COP agreement represent a significant shift as it is now the first-ever in 28 years of international climate negotiations to address fossil fuels and put the alignment with science on the forefront of the fight against climate change.
Yet, words matter, and they also represent missed opportunities. To discuss this and more, our Krystyna Springer, Policy Analyst in the Land use and Climate programme, talked with Maria Jose Sanz, Scientific Director at BC3 and Gillian Bowser, Associate Professor at the Colorado State University.
