What is COP28 and why is it important?

A man walks past the COP28 logo in Dubai on November 28 (Photo: AFP).

The discussions will include phasing out - or even eliminating - fossil fuels, how the world can adapt to extreme weather events, setting standards for a carbon emissions trading system, and creating a new fund to offset the damage caused by global warming.

When and where does COP28 take place?

The COP28 conference began on November 30 and is scheduled to end on December 12. The negotiations are scheduled to last for two weeks, but they are often extended by a day or two as delegates debate the wording of the joint statement.

This year, COP28 is being held at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

What is COP28?

The official name of COP28 is the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

This is an annual meeting of nearly 200 countries hosted by the United Nations to discuss how to stop man-made climate change and adapt to warming temperatures. The COP conferences have been taking place for 28 years.

The COP28 conference began on November 30 and is scheduled to end on December 12 at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Photo: Bloomberg).

The idea behind the COP conferences is to create a multilateral forum where everyone has an equal say in how the world should cut greenhouse gases.

Still, there is a divide between rich and poor countries. Developing countries argue that because developed countries have become rich thanks to fossil fuel-based industries, they should be allowed to do the same.

The COP reached a groundbreaking agreement in Paris in 2015, when all countries agreed for the first time to keep the temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while setting a long-term goal to ensure global warming does not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Achieving those goals would mean emissions need to be reduced to zero by mid-century.

While the 2015 Paris Agreement was a landmark moment, countries have struggled to implement it. Each member state pledged its fair share of the global warming effort, but some argue that these commitments are not enough.

Who attended COP28?

COP28 is expected to be the largest conference ever, with more than 70,000 attendees.

The key figures at COP28 are negotiators representing 197 countries. They will spend two weeks discussing behind closed doors agreements to advance climate change.

Negotiators are usually accompanied by ministers and sometimes heads of state. Every country has an equal voice regardless of its size.

Delegates wearing traditional hats attend the COP27 climate conference (Photo: Bloomberg).

Bloomberg quoted informed sources as saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden will not attend COP28.

Among the leaders expected to attend are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, British Chancellor Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron. US climate envoy John Kerry is expected to be in Dubai for the entire summit.

People from social organizations and businesses were also present to express their views on the sidelines of the event.

Why is COP28 important?

This is the first year since the Paris Agreement was signed that countries will look back at the progress they have made in tackling climate change.

After COP28, countries will have until 2025 to submit new plans to combat climate change. This will really determine whether the world is on the right track.

Some rich countries, especially in Europe, want tougher commitments such as phasing out fossil fuels and for emissions to “peak” (stop growing) by 2025. That is a big ask for many developing countries like India, which see fossil fuels as essential to economic growth.

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, President of COP28 (Photo: Bloomberg).

This year's COP is also important for climate finance.

Rich countries have made good on their promise to mobilize $100 billion a year to help poor countries cope with the negative impacts of climate change. But that is a fraction of the $2.4 trillion a year needed by 2030, according to the latest estimates.

The parties will seek to agree on a new post-2025 target for climate finance.

In the first days of COP28, world leaders are expected to make a series of announcements on how to tackle methane emissions from oil and gas, how to make agriculture and food production more sustainable, and how to triple renewable energy capacity.

Host country UAE is also expected to announce a multi-billion dollar fund to invest in climate-friendly technologies.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/cop28-la-gi-va-vi-sao-quan-trong-20231129221341588.htm