• The problem: Governments have come together each year over the last three decades to forge a global response to the climate crisis. However, current commitments are insufficient to limit warming to the 1.5˚C benchmark.
  • Why it matters: We must act globally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equitably and prevent dangerous climate change.
  • The solution: Diplomats and policymakers need the necessary knowledge and skills to negotiate our climate future.

This year is looking to be another one for the record books. We’re on track for the hottest year on record — the ninth in a row. A worrying trend is set to continue as recent reports suggest the window to limit global warming to 1.5˚C is rapidly closing. In the hope of recorrecting our trajectory, the world looks anxiously towards the latest global climate summit.

Leaders, politicians and experts have been gathering at the annual UN Climate Change Conference since 1995 to thrash out climate commitments. This year sees the United Arab Emirates (UAE) step up on the global stage to host the 28th iteration of the UN climate conference, COP28.

What’s at stake at COP28?

One of the critical issues at COP28 is that diplomats will need a firm grounding in is the first-ever Global Stocktake. This report card takes the pulse on where we’re at in achieving the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement and provides guidance on how governments can strengthen action.

Another critical task facing negotiators is the Loss and Damage fund. Securing a fund for climate victims was a historic achievement of COP27. But many questions remain: Who will pay into this fund? How much and how often? And who will be eligible for support? To contend with the impacts of climate change, emerging economies will need $340 billion annually by 2030, compared to a mere $29 billion offered in 2020.

The global goal on adaptation will also feature prominently at COP28. There needs to be agreement on what the goal should include and how it will be measured and reported. A challenge for negotiators is that adaptation is localised in different contexts and does not have clear global metrics.

On the mitigation side, the phase-out of fossil fuels is likely to receive a lot of attention. Our continued reliance on fossil fuels means the world is on course to surpass 1.5˚C warming in the next ten years. To keep the 1.5˚C target alive, fossil fuel demand must fall by 80% by 2050.

Clueing up diplomats for COP

Have you ever wondered what it takes to prepare for negotiations that shape the fate of our planet? As delegations from 197 countries assemble in Dubai, Apolitical takes a front-row seat.

Apolitical talked to Moustafa Bayoumi, a Research Fellow in Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA). Ahead of COP28, Moustafa helped launch the Centre for Climate Diplomacy, a regional hub to inspire climate action in the Middle East.

The diplomats with a place at the negotiating table are entering two sleepless weeks of balancing their own countries’ priorities against those sitting opposite them. These negotiators come from a range of different ministries. So, what exactly does it take to get them all up to scratch with the necessary knowledge and skills?

The UAE’s Centre for Climate Diplomacy exists “to bridge the gap between the science and policymakers, diplomats and civil servants by communicating the best science available, particularly in the region”, Bayoumi explains.

Acting as a platform to deliver research directly to the hands of policymakers and diplomats, the Centre is building skills capacity in climate diplomacy. Over the course of six months, negotiators will strengthen their understanding of topics including climate diplomacy, the energy transition, adaptation and resilience and climate finance.

The Centre is just one example of many capacity-building initiatives globally. Training workshops are particularly vital in some of the most vulnerable emerging markets. Upskilling negotiators in countries like Mauritius and Vanuatu can help level out the playing field and strengthen the voices of those most impacted by climate change.

Another important aspect is preparing the next generation of negotiators. The involvement of youth is being championed at this year’s COP. A programme will see 100 young diplomats placed at the heart of the COP process to inspire future leaders. The Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy has helped in the past and continues to train some of these youth delegates. They start with basic climate science before moving into governance and diplomacy, and finally, they dive deep into specific agenda items.

Building a legacy

With the UAE in the spotlight this year, many questions have been swirling around the choice of host location. While some are weighing up the influence of a hosting oil-rich nation on the negotiations, others see it as an opportunity to elevate climate action across the region.

The choice of location has an undeniable influence on the summit. The COP Presidency effectively steers the negotiations. They work before, during and after the COP to develop international relationships with countries and stakeholders to help reach a consensus on key issues.

But influence also works in the opposite direction. Hosting a COP means you have to build your knowledge and skills capacity. It can boost domestic climate governance and get everyone talking about climate change. The UAE has taken hold of this opportunity by establishing the Universities Climate Network — a group of 33 higher education institutions building climate change into the curricula in the lead-up to COP28.

The Centre for Climate Diplomacy is also experiencing the heightened demand for climate change knowledge and skills firsthand. Its training programmes have received interest from across sectors, divisions and levels — from government entities to the private sector.

This year will be the first time the Middle East hosts back-to-back COPs. The hope is that the legacy will live on. The challenge is to make sure that COP28 is more than a fleeting hype. Instead, it is an opportunity to firmly plant climate change at the forefront of people’s minds and inspire action across the region.

What would a good outcome of COP28 look like to you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. ⬇️ ⬇️

(Image Credit: Unsplash)