What is Happening at Climate Change Conference?

COP stands for "Conference of the Parties" and can be translated into Turkish as "Conference of the Parties". The COP is one of the main bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC is an international agreement adopted in 1992 to combat climate change at the global level. By following the climate conference for you, we catch up with the agenda and point out what lies ahead.

Let's get to the article... COP meetings bring together government representatives from around the world to discuss and determine climate change policies, commitments, and strategies. These meetings aim to encourage cooperation between countries to tackle climate change and to take effective measures globally. The annual COP meetings bring together representatives of participating countries and contribute to the process of determining global climate change policies. The decisions taken at these meetings can be influential in shaping global climate policies and ensuring the coordination of efforts to combat climate change among countries.

For example, the Paris Agreement was adopted at the COP21 meeting 2015. This agreement aims to establish a framework among countries to limit global warming and combat climate change. COP meetings are one of the platforms where such important agreements are negotiated and adopted. Today, climate change poses a serious threat worldwide. To combat this threat and take effective actions, cooperation at the national and international levels has become mandatory. In this context, many regulations and decisions are made through various international organizations. The Conference of the Parties ("COP"), organized by the United Nations (UN), which is held in a different country every year, aims to establish global policies, determine and evaluate commitments, develop action plans, and exchange ideas on these issues. In addition to the conference held in Egypt last year, we, as the Green Forest team, will participate in COP28, which will be held in Dubai between November 30 - December 12, 2023. COP28 is a critically important platform in the fight against climate change, where states participate to promote international cooperation and discuss global action plans.

Ahead of COP28, PreCOP28 was held on October 31, 2023, in Abu Dhabi with the participation of ministers from more than 70 countries and over 100 delegation members. Among the agenda items of the meeting are issues such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate change adaptation and global targets, establishing a fund to compensate for losses and damages, and increasing climate finance.

COP28 will host the Global Stocktake, which will assess efforts to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement. It was also announced that PreCOP28 will implement an action plan, shaped by input from government representatives, companies, civil society organizations, youth, and other stakeholders. This action plan is based on four main pillars: accelerating green transformation, enhancing climate finance mechanisms, focusing on adaptation efforts, and inclusiveness. This plan, shaped by contributions from various sectors, aims to provide a comprehensive approach to the strategic objectives of COP28.

In his opening speech at PreCOP28, COP28 President Ahmed Al Jaber said: "There is too much that divides our world. Now, more than ever, we need to unite on climate, to send a message of hope, solidarity, stability, and prosperity. We need to show that the international community can give a clear signal that will make the 1.5 degree target achievable", emphasizing the need to unite on climate action globally.

At PreCOP28, the COP28 Presidency, in collaboration with GRA - Global Renewable Alliance and IRENA - International Renewable Energy Agency, published the report "Tripling Renewable Energy and Doubling Energy Efficiency by 2030: Important Steps Towards 1.5°C" report was published. According to the report, renewable energy generation capacity should be tripled to reach the 1.5 degrees Celsius target worldwide by 2030. To reach this target, more than 11,000 GW of capacity is needed and 90 percent of the total energy capacity should come from sustainable sources such as solar and wind energy. The action plan for the COP28 summit calls for tripling renewable energy capacity to 11,000 GW and increasing hydrogen production to 18 million tons per year. In addition, phasing down the use of fossil fuels and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies will also be among the important topics. The report emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency and the need to double efforts in this area by 2030. To achieve this goal, it is recommended to use more efficient technologies and to promote extensive electrification. It should also be noted that before COP28, the UNFCC - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat published the 2023 Synthesis Report, which analyzes the national contribution declarations submitted by countries to combat climate change. According to the report, although there is an increase in some countries' efforts to combat climate change, it is emphasized that these efforts are insufficient to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement on the report: "The world is failing to contain the climate crisis. As the report shows, efforts to tackle climate change ground to a halt last year. According to national plans, global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase by 9 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels" and stated that "step-by-step" progress in combating the climate crisis would not be enough. In this direction, the policies to combat the climate crisis and the solution methods on how to implement these policies are expected to be examined at COP28. The COP28 Presidency has a commitment to work with government and industry to deliver an energy package that focuses on the energy transition and will be fast-tracked. As such, we expect COP28 to hold discussions to help heavy-emitting sectors transition to these targets through renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, electrification, and advanced technologies. In addition, the COP28 Presidency is expected to launch the "Global Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Commitment". It is also expected to elaborate on innovative strategies to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources, increase energy efficiency, and achieve energy efficiency on a global scale. The Energy Transition Changemakers initiative, which the COP28 Presidency will launch for the first time this year, aims to support innovative and scalable decarbonization projects around the world and encourage collaboration within the private sector. The initiative aims to recognize projects that play a leading role in the energy transition and bring stakeholders together. The projects identified by the initiative are planned to be presented at COP28 on December 5, 2023. In this way, it aims to create a global platform for energy transition, bringing together participants from various sectors, and raising awareness and opportunities for global cooperation. In addition, one of the four focus areas of WBCSD - World Business Council for Sustainable Development at COP28 will be the transformation of the energy and industrial sector. Other focus areas are corporate carbon performance and accountability, food and agriculture transformation, and pro-nature actions for climate action. COP28 has an important potential to make new commitments, increase financing, and promote transformation to achieve the climate targets previously set. In addition, COP28 plays a key role in determining more comprehensive and effective approaches against the negative impacts of climate change globally and taking action in the right way by providing a common resistance.

Adaptation to climate change is half of the climate equation. For this reason, cities and city peripheries are very important in the fight against climate change. It is important to increase resilience to climate change, adapt, and reduce vulnerabilities. We must believe in nature-based solutions with ancient knowledge. Development, climate change, and biodiversity matter for our right to live in a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment. We will follow the decisions taken at COP28 and the sessions on global action plans to combat climate change and share our general evaluations after COP28 with you as soon as possible. You can contact us about the European Green Deal, carbon regulation mechanism at the border, emission trading systems, and green transformation in companies.