Koli at COP28: Navigating the Crossroads of Climate Action in Dubai

Here’s an update on the latest feather on Mostlysane’s cap! Prajakta Koli (@mostlysane) is amongst the hand-picked noteworthy individuals speaking at the event, covering topics like water conservation with @nasa and the power of storytelling with @google. Koli is the only Indian YouTuber attending COP28 UAE. Curious about why this is something you should know? Here’s a little more about what COP28 is and why it is so important!

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, is poised to be a watershed moment in the global fight against climate change. Scheduled to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from November 30 to December 12, this conference follows a series of crucial meetings that have shaped international climate policy since the inaugural COP gathering in Munich, Germany, in 1995.

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, assumes a pivotal role as the President-Designate of COP28, leading discussions in a region often associated with oil and gas production. The selection of Dubai as the host city has sparked debates given the UAE’s significant role in the fossil fuel industry, particularly through the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), one of the world’s largest oil and gas producers.

As the global community grapples with record-breaking temperatures and escalating climate-related disasters, COP28 emerges as a critical opportunity to recalibrate strategies and intensify efforts to combat the climate crisis. The conference is set to evaluate progress on the Paris Agreement, a landmark climate treaty established in 2015, and devise an action plan to substantially reduce emissions and safeguard lives and livelihoods.

The urgency of the climate crisis is underscored by scientific consensus: a rapid decline in coal, oil, and gas production is imperative, while global renewable energy capacity must triple by 2030 to maintain a sustainable climate. Simultaneously, there is a pressing need for substantial increases in financing for adaptation and investments in climate resilience.

Amidst the potential for discord among nations at COP28, certain common goals emerge. One of the primary shared objectives is the call for a 200% increase in global renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade. Another critical consensus involves doubling energy efficiency worldwide within the next seven years, a goal expected to be achieved through changes in transportation and the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

The issue of “loss and damage” is also on the agenda, with last year’s breakthrough agreement in Egypt establishing a fund to assist poorer and developing nations in coping with the impacts of climate change. However, challenges persist in defining the fund’s parameters, including contributions, allocations, and eligibility criteria.

One glaring reality on the road to sustainable energy is the world’s continued reliance on fossil fuels, constituting approximately 80% of global energy consumption. Despite reductions in coal use in developed nations, the demand for oil and gas remains robust, especially in large, developing countries such as China and India.

The juxtaposition of Dubai, a major global hub, and the UAE’s status as a significant oil and gas producer raises questions about the host country’s commitment to climate action. Sultan al-Jaber, at the helm of Adnoc, embodies this seeming contradiction. However, the UAE has ardently endorsed ambitious goals, supporting the tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.

As COP28 unfolds against this complex backdrop, the world watches with anticipation, hopeful that international cooperation will prevail over differences, leading to concrete actions that address the existential threat of climate change. In a region where the contrasts between economic interests and environmental imperatives are stark, COP28 in Dubai stands as an opportunity for nations to bridge divides and collectively forge a sustainable future.

So, for Koli to be invited as a significant speaker at the event, is definitely one for the books, and encouragement for the younger generation to take climate change more seriously!