1. What is COP28?
COP28 refers to the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, organized from November 30th to December 12th in Dubai, The United Arab Emirates.
This event marks a significant advancement in the Global Stocktake, the first under the provisions of the Paris Agreement on comprehensive climate change. The objective is to assess global efforts in climate action and address gaps in implementation.
COP28 will also focus on climate transition initiatives and mitigating impacts on nature and humanity, revolving around four main themes: health, clean water, food, and nature. Ultimately, COP28 will be the first event to witness broad participation from stakeholders, including high-emission sectors and private oil and gas companies.
2. Who attends COP28?
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) indicates that over 170 heads of state and government leaders have participated and registered to speak at the conference, along with over 50,000 delegates from various countries, international organizations, media agencies, and other relevant entities. COP28 is considered the largest conference to date.
Key negotiators representing each country are pivotal figures in COP28. They will spend two weeks in closed-door discussions on agreements to advance climate change solutions. Every country has an equal voice, regardless of size or financial capacity.
Vietnam's high-level delegation, led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, also attended the conference. Accompanying the Prime Minister were leaders from the Government Office, several ministers, leaders of ministries, committees, and banks. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech at the summit held on December 2, 2023.
3. Discussions at COP28
In addition to the primary goal of advancing the Global Stocktake for the first time under the provisions of the Paris Agreement on climate change, COP28 is expected to prioritize issues related to the gradual reduction of fossil fuels and financial matters, particularly the Loss and Damage Fund.
During the initial days of COP28, leaders of participating nations are anticipated to make a series of announcements on addressing methane emissions from oil and gas, promoting more sustainable agriculture and food production, and tripling the capacity of renewable energy.
Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, CEO of the state-owned oil company of the United Arab Emirates and President of COP28, emphasized the need for COP to collaborate with fossil fuel companies, recognizing their capacity to effect change. He noted that many national oil companies have committed to achieving zero methane emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
Simon Stiell, Secretary-General of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), stressed the importance of making informed investments in the transition process. He emphasized that if the transition is not equitable, it will not succeed. This implies fairness within each country and among nations.
A promising signal for developing countries on the opening day of the COP28 conference is the commitment of financial support from various nations. The UAE and Germany pledged $100 million, the EU offered $225 million (including Germany's $100 million commitment), the United Kingdom contributed £65 million (equivalent to $75 million USD), the United States provided $24.5 million, and Japan contributed $10 million to the Loss and Damage Fund. However, these amounts are relatively small compared to the estimated annual requirement of $2.4 trillion by 2030, according to the latest estimates.
Alongside participating in exchanges and negotiations during the COP28 conference, the Vietnamese delegation is expected to host several events at the Vietnam Pavilion from December 1st to 10th, 2023, and engage in various side events of COP28. These activities aim to share Vietnam's experiences, promote information, and showcase images of Vietnam's climate change response while enhancing international cooperation in addressing climate change.
Source: https://dangcongsan.vn/