COP 28 MOST VITAL COP SINCE 2015 PARIS AGREEMENT

BY Realty Plus

“This year, July has been the hottest month in our history. We expect the next year to be hotter with every year, new records being broken. This is going to be the new norm as we tackle how to align the rising temperature and remain within the 1.5-degree Celsius target. We are currently at 1.1 degrees Celsius world with floods, droughts, heat, and vector borne diseases being witnessed every day in many parts of the world. Keeping this in mind, COP 28 to be held in Dubai this year will be the most significant COP since the 2015 Paris Agreement. 

What makes this exceptional is what we call the global stock take, wherein we would be taking a backward reflection on where we are, our goals, our aspirations, and targets,” said Simon Emmanuel Kervin Stiell, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in his special address to Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

“As we take stock of where we are, it is evident there are many gaps that needs to be filled. The global stock take gives us this opportunity to respond to those gaps and the pathways to course correct ourselves from the 1.5-degree Celsius world that we are moving towards by 2050 to a 1.1 degree Celsius. Questions that needs to be addressed are “What should we need to do to reduce emissions, what can be done to reduce loss and damage, how do we provide access to finances to make the changes that we need to bring us back to course. Now, that we know the challenges and the opportunities that are in front of us, can we get 197 countries who are party to the Paris Agreement to agree within the negotiated process on those actions that are needed for this reset,” Simon Emmanuel pointed out.

“We have work cut out for us for COP 28 at Dubai. We look at our respective Governments for leadership, and there is a fundamental responsibility that lies there. There is this inter-governmental process that we have that demonstrates that we are far from there,” he added.

Addressing the business community, he said, “Within the business community, the terms of actions you can take, the leadership you can demonstrate in your own business, these are not only in the interests of your shareholders and customers but also in terms of sustainability, responsibility to environment and climate and that opportunity is presented to each of you. As we transition into this new economy that is thought on sustainable principles and doing the right thing, presents opportunities to improve your bottom line, create new jobs, new financial streams, new economic opportunities,”.

“We want businesses to work on what you are doing, what targets you are setting, what transition plans you are putting in place to ensure we not only meet net zero commitments but also makes business sense. India’s level of ambition, energy, positivity that exists within the business community and government level is visible and we would like UNFCCC to work together and better,” he concluded.

Tags : COP agreement Simon Emmanuel Kervin Stiell Executive Secretary UNFCCC Paris Agreement global stock Confederation of Indian Industry