Dear Readers,
Remember when COP was just another word for a “police officer”? For the past 27 years, it has meant something quite different: Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Understandably, that got shortened to “COP” and in just two weeks, the 28th annual conference will be held in Abu Dhabi. Will anything happen at this convening of ‘parties’ that will address the urgent challenges of a planet in peril?
Not likely is the expectation, given the skepticism about the appointed president, Sultan Al Jaber, who is an oil and gas industry executive, and reports that the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which is advising on the agenda, also represents fossil fuel interests — clearly a conflict of interests when the negotiations must include phasing out fossil fuels to meet the targets for a habitable environment.
These conflicts of interests, behind-the-scenes influencing and disinformation campaigns are stalling progress and adding to the public’s confusion about what to believe and what actions can be taken.
But I hold onto what Christiana Figueres (who presided over the COP that produced the Paris Agreement) calls “radical optimism,” and what we, at Project Dandelion refer to as the “hope” that ignites action. Whatever actions do or do not happen at COP28, it’s important to continue to support the process that is moving climate negotiation and actions forward. Even though it may not be fast enough or big enough, keeping all the parties at the negotiating table is critical. And for all of us who won’t be at COP28, we still have a big role to play — holding the leaders accountable for making the changes necessary to meet the 2030 targets and insisting upon the representation of women at all forums where decisions are being made.
Through my work with Project Dandelion, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of the leaders and the organizations shaping that positive future and I am committed, as you know from reading this newsletter, to do my part to raise awareness and to encourage you to also become more informed and engaged.
That’s why I’m sharing information about “Unite for Climate Solutions,” a women-led online summit for a climate safe world happening online on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.
Co-hosted by She Changes Climate and Project Dandelion, the convening will bring together key decision-makers and women leaders from around the world ahead of COP. Multi-stakeholder dialogues will address these areas of necessary solutions: Energy, Finance, Nature, Inclusion & Diversity.
Registration is open and free for all!
Join one session or join us for the whole day! More info.
Importantly, we will hear from top leaders, including Sultan Al Jaber, the COP28 president, who will be in conversation with Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland. This will be a rare opportunity to advocate for more women’s representation at COP and all forums where the future is at stake.
Following the summit, I hope you’ll continue to engage in the Project Dandelion campaign with these two actions:
Step 1: UNITE and AMPLIFY on November 22
Tell the world you are a Dandelion, committed to a climate safe world for all. Use this toolkit to share on your social media platforms. Share what you learn at the summit and share this toolkit with your community! Your support will make a significant difference.
Step 2: MOBILIZE From December 13 onwards
Project Dandelion will introduce a one-click public pressure tool: a unique Twitter/X Widget on projectdandelion.com that allows anyone to immediately take action and speak directly to key decision makers from COP28. More to come on this soon…
Please join us!
Become a Dandelion — to be resilient in spirit, restorative in all our actions, regenerative by informing and engaging others, and, like the mighty dandelion, persistent and impossible to stop.
Time to blow the seeds for a climate safe world.
Onward!
- Pat
