Dear Readers,
I hope many of you are following the events in Dubai where COP28 (the UN climate conference) is happening. So far, the reviews are mixed and the ultimate impact uncertain….and never has it been more urgent or necessary for the world’s leaders to unite for the solutions, policies, and commitments that will ensure a climate safe world for everyone.
You may have noted in some of the headlines the comments that the COP28 President, Sultan Al Jabar, made during the "Unite For Climate Solutions" virtual summit co-hosted by She Changes Climate and Project Dandelion, and with many other women leader partners, including The Elders’s Chair, Mary Robinson.
The summit invited leaders across geography and generations — activists and diplomats — to unite for a day-long conversation that produced specific recommendations for actions at COP28. More than 800 participants joined us from around the world, as well as COP28 High Level Champion H.E. Razan Al Mubarak and UAE Chief Climate Negotiator Hana Al Hashimi.
In the final session, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber joined Mary Robinson in conversation. She pressed him to take the lead and commit to a fossil fuel phase-out. Mary said, “We’re in an absolute crisis that is hurting women and children more than anyone … and it’s because we have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuel. That is the one decision that COP28 can take and in many ways, because you’re head of Adnoc (UAE's national oil company), you could actually take it with more credibility.”
In response, Al Jaber rejected the idea, saying that there is “no science” behind demands that a phase-out of fossil fuels is needed to restrict global heating to 1.5°C. He went on to say that such a swift phase-out would take the world “back into caves.” His remarks “set off a firestorm at the climate talks,” reported the New York Times and in a hastily organized press conference on Monday morning, he tried to walk back his comments.
You can listen to the exchange below.
Cop28 president refuses to commit to phasing out fossil fuels – video
President Sultan Al Jaber is still publicly declaring his primary goal is to accelerate the green energy transition by getting commitments from countries to triple renewable growth.
But an increasing number of world leaders and most scientists say that that is not enough, and are pushing for leaders to sign a pledge committing to the phase-out of fossil fuels.
In his speech on Friday to world leaders, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The science is clear: The 1.5C limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce, not abate. Phase out, with a clear timeframe.”
In spite of some early progress in the first few days of COP, most agree that there is only one measure of success for COP28 and that is whether there is a commitment to phase out fossil fuels. “More than 100 African, European, Pacific and Caribbean countries back a phase-out of unabated fossil fuels. The US, the world’s biggest oil and gas producer, also backs a phase-out. Others, such as Russia, Saudi Arabia and China, reject the call. Both options are on the table at COP28, as well as proposals to only mention coal, or to not say anything at all about fossil fuels,” reported the Guardian.
But anything less than a commitment to a phase-out and eventual shift to a clean energy future that is possible for everyone will signal a failure of leadership among the Conference of Parties — the world’s leaders deciding our future now.
There is some good news. COP28 started strong with many important negotiations crucial to advancing a just green energy transition. The big achievement so far — a huge victory for climate justice — was the approval of the loss and damage fund on the very first day. Vulnerable countries have been advocating for the fund for more than three decades and finally, diplomats from nearly 200 countries approved the draft plan.
Now that the loss and damage fund is finally operational, we must advocate to ensure policymakers live up to their promises and truly deliver climate justice. In addition to pressuring countries to deliver adequate funding, we must also monitor the fund's progress and advocate for gender-responsive climate financing and strategies to enhance their integration. We must ensure the targeted distribution of funds to communities in need by placing historically marginalized groups at the forefront of funding and decision-making processes, with a particular emphasis on empowering women within these communities.
Inclusive and diverse climate negotiations are crucial for systemic change. While COP27 made slight progress with 36% women delegates, only 20% were heads of delegation. In COP28, led by notable women under UAE leadership, including Hana Al Hashimi, 63% of the climate negotiations teams are women. Better for sure, and credit must go to She Changes Climate for keeping the call for more women leaders at all climate negotiations. But there is plentiful evidence that supports the need for more women leaders of countries, companies, and negotiations in order to achieve better environmental policies and more just outcomes.
Fast-tracking a just energy transition for all and phasing out fossil fuels is imperative. Speed is essential, but a just energy transition extends beyond renewables, necessitating a comprehensive social and economic transformation to ensure the well-being of all stakeholders and prevent exclusion. A just transition is possible and already underway in many communities. We have the technology and many of the solutions. We just need the Will!
Continuing to apply pressure to the leaders making the decisions and holding them accountable for the implementations of their policies is now our imperative — and by ‘our’, I refer to every one of us because we are responsible for doing all we can to ensure that this planet we live on together is still a habitable home for all the generations in the future.
So please consider becoming involved. An easy STEP ONE is to read and sign the statement below which urges the COP negotiators to pursue a clear roadmap to a climate safe world.
Petition: The Transformation is Unstoppable
As we enter the final days of COP28, we are at a tipping point.
The natural world and its people need the strongest possible outcome to keep 1.5 degrees within reach. But delivering on this historic task requires us to act like a team.
The signals of transformation and opportunity across sectors and society are all around us. At the same time, the climate emergency is biting harder than ever. It’s up to us to seize this opportunity – because what is achieved here in Dubai must mark a legacy moment which determines the fate of our future generations.
We – businesses, cities, states and regions, investors, health professionals, young people, faith leaders and scientists – stand in courage and in trust with the COP28 President and all Parties in bringing us together behind a rapid response plan to the Global Stocktake.
To reach this positive tipping point, we know we need the following:
- An orderly phase out of fossil fuels in a just & equitable way, in line with a 1.5C trajectory - whilst ensuring the tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 from 2022 levels.
- The enabling environment to scale up and shift finance, with developed countries taking the lead in action and support, putting a price on carbon and tripling investments for renewable energy.
- The halt and reversal of deforestation and land degradation as well as biodiversity & other ecosystem loss by 2030, with a strong global goal on adaptation.
These outcomes must be supported by the implementation and ratcheting of Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans well before COP30 in 2025 which align with 1.5C and incorporate multi-stakeholder efforts within them.
Later is too late.
Yours,
Team Courage
I must end my letter this week with a brief and deeply felt tribute to one of the truly transformative human beings ever to walk among us — someone whose work will live on and continue to have impact, and whose friendship I valued beyond words — Norman Lear.
I will write more about him in the future, but on this day after his passing at 101 years young, I think the best way to remember his warmth, spirit and optimism is with his own words that appeared in The New York Times on his 100th birthday:
“This is our century, dear reader, yours and mine. Let us encourage one another with visions of a shared future. And let us bring all the grit and openheartedness and creative spirit we can muster to gather together and build that future.”
With Norman’s call to action in my heart, I will be following the critical decisions shaping the future that are happening at COP28 — and I hope you will, too.
The transformation to a cleaner, safer, and more just future is possible, and with more of us united and making our voices heard — everywhere — the more it becomes unstoppable.
Onward!
- Pat
