Wars in the Middle East: One Today, One for the Future
EU Takes the Climate Change Front Ahead of COP28 Dubai
While the world is being shredded to pieces in an unjust Israel-Hamas war, there’s still an elephant in the room: Climate change and COP28 in Dubai.
- The EU has outlined its climate position for COP28 in Dubai through a set of Council conclusions.
- The EU urges nations, especially major economies, to enhance NDCs.
The EU Council released a set of conclusions on October 16th, outlining its general negotiating position for the climate change conference COP28 in Dubai.
The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will serve as a platform for nations to reiterate their commitment to the Paris Agreement and discuss critical issues related to climate mitigation, adaptation, and financing. It is scheduled to take place in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
In the set of Council conclusions, the EU Council expresses deep concern about the growing impacts of climate change and calls for immediate and significant action.
The Council emphasizes the importance of ambitious climate action for the planet, the global economy, and all people. It emphasized the significance of facilitating a just transition toward sustainable, climate-resilient, and climate-neutral economies and societies, leaving no one behind.
Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, acting Spanish third vice-president and minister for the ecological transition and the demographic challenge, declared, “Today we send a strong message to our partners: the EU is the global leader on climate action. In Dubai, we will be at the forefront of the negotiations to show the EU’s strongest commitment to the green transition and encourage our partners to follow our lead.”
The Council urges all nations, especially major economies, to enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and update their long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LTS) with a net-zero emissions target by 2050 at the latest.
The EU has already submitted an updated NDC reflecting the ‘Fit for 55’ package, which aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
The Council’s recommendations extend to advocating for a global phase-out of unabated fossil fuels and a significant reduction in their consumption by the end of this decade. It also encourages the tripling of installed renewable energy capacity to 11 TW and doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. On the issue of climate finance to address loss and damage, the Council acknowledges ongoing efforts by countries and institutions.
This seems like an insignificant thing to discuss at this moment in time, with everything going on. But when you look at the bigger picture, the war will hopefully end at some point, but our climate will be too far gone by then.
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