UNFCCC's COP 28: main outcomes and failures

 The 28th  conference under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came at a critical moment in time, with 2023 set to be the warmest year on record and the impacts of climate change rapidly accelerating. International climate change negotiations at the COP28 conference in Dubai concluded on 13 December 2023.

Below are the main outcomes and failures of the COP 28:

IPCC about potential climate change adaptation and mitigation options

In its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), IPCC integrates the contributions and findings of the three Working Groups. Compared with previous IPCC assessments, there is a greater focus on problem solutions, more regional information, and more integration across Working Groups. IPCC's AR6 states that world needs fast transitions across all sectors and systems to achieve deep and sustained emissions reductions and secure sustainable future for all.

What to expect from COP25?

The key issues to be discussed and resolved at COP25 include:
- Strengthening Climate Ambition, Long-Term Decarbonization and Resilience.
At COP25, countries must not only reiterate but strengthen their commitments regarding  enhanced NDCs by 2020 and launch national inclusive and multi-stakeholder enhancement processes.
- The rules, modalities, procedures, and guidance developed under Article 6 must be in line with the highest standard of environmental integrity.
Recommendations should be prepared on far more ambitious NDCs based on the findings of the three recent IPCC special reports on 1.5°C, land, and oceans and cryosphere. Rich countries must use the Pre-2020 

Climate change challenges on Canada's Arctic coast

All of Canada’s  coasts, the longest in the world, are being impacted by changing climate, and these impacts will continue to increase in the future. It is an ice that distinguishes Canada's about 176,000 kilometres of North coastline from the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines. Authors of the new report, published by the Government of Canada, have found that both, sea ice and ground ice within the permafrost, are very vulnerable to the global warming.

China's climate adaptation strategy is discussed

A group of Chinese climate experts gathered to talk about China's experience and strategy for climate change adaptation. China has made strides to adapt to global climate change based on scientific research in a well-organized way since 2004, including adjusting the country's agricultural structure as well as controlling soil erosion and the problems of an encroaching desert.

India’s climate adaptation gap is over $1 trillion by 2030

Estimation of the adaptation gap, between what needs to be spent and what is spent, was made by independent study conducted in India. According to the study, as many as 800 million people living across nearly 450 districts in India are currently experiencing significant increases in annual mean temperature going beyond the 2°C warming pathway.

Water and climate change adaptation pact launched in Paris

A broad coalition of nations, river basin organizations, business and civil society announced US $1 billion to support the agreement which goal is to make water systems more resilient to climate impacts. Almost 290 water basin organisations are engaged under the Paris Pact to protect most climate change vulnerable water basins, including Niger Basin (9 African countries involved), Mediterranean Water Platform (7 countries), Mexico Valley, Hai river basin in China, Ecocuencas program (4 countries), and others.

Scientists are not sure if species hybridization, caused by climate change, is good or bad for biodiversity

The phenomena of increased species interbreeding, as a result of climate change impact on the habitat, became a subject of discussions and different points of view among scientists. 

The eastern coyote, for example, is a wolf-coyote hybrid that has expanded its range across the eastern US and Canada. Scientists have discovered that these super-sized coyotes are only about two-thirds coyote.

Climate change may affect coffee lovers

Recent study, published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Journal, predicts severe negative climate change impacts on Arabica coffee production in Africa. The results of  another research, based on global circulation models, suggest  decreased areas suitable for Arabica coffee in America and Asia. 

Climate Change: New study enables detailed projections of coral reef bleaching

There are regions within many countries where some reefs are projected to experience annual bleaching conditions 15 or more years later than neighboring regions. This applies to reefs in Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and Mexico. Reefs projected to experience bleaching conditions later can be conservation priorities. The loss of coral reefs can have economic, social and ecological effects. Coral reefs provide rich habitat for valuable fisheries that people depend on for food. They serve as protective buffers to coastlines by absorbing wave energy from storms, and they boost local economies by attracting tourists who fish, dive and explore these underwater treasures. Read more at http://summitcountyvoice.com

What next for the Green Climate Fund?

GCF  board meets in Korea to discuss how it will leverage billions in private funds. The Private Sector Facility (PSF), widely regarded as one of the innovative features of the Fund, has started to take shape with the board confirming that private sector intermediaries can be accredited to deploy the Fund’s resources.Such entities, the Board decided, will have a choice of financial instruments that includes equity and guarantee instruments alongside grants and loans.
Advice and specific recommendations on two particularly innovative roles of the PSF were provided.
First,  the importance for ensuring the Fund supports the local private sector in developing countries, particularly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) for both mitigation and adaptation activities.
 The other potentially innovative role for the PSF is on mobilising funds at scale. Given the scale of the climate related investment challenge, accelerating the participation of institutional investors within the financing of countries’ mitigation and adaptation programmes was emphasised.  Read more at http://www.rtcc.org

IPCC launches complete Synthesis Report, the concluding instalment of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)

Written by over 800 scientists from 80 countries, and assessing over 30,000 scientific papers, the Fifth Assessment Report tells policymakers what the scientific community knows about the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. The key findings of the Synthesis Report, initially released on 2 November 2014, are:
· Human influence on the climate system is clear;
· The more we disrupt our climate, the more we risk severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts; and
· We have the means to limit climate change and build a more prosperous, sustainable future. Read more at http://www.ipcc.ch/

India to partner with Africa to fight climate change

Ahead of the UN climate conference in Paris later this year, India Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar  on Wednesday said that adaptation and mitigation must be accorded "equal" importance and assured that it will partner with African nations to fight climate change while taking cooperation to a "new level". Read more at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Climate Adaptation Experts Help Prepare for Disaster

Over the past few years, climate adaptation has become a field, separate from climate mitigation, which focuses on reducing emissions and minimizing carbon footprints. Climate adaptation experts now head up new adaptation practices at consulting firms or lead sustainability teams for companies and government offices. Although climate mitigation is still far more common and better funded, climate adaptation is having a moment. The first step in any climate adaptation project, whether for the private or public sector, is to conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine which climate-related changes might most affect the company or region. Read more at www.climatecentral.org

EU launches pilot projects to leverage green energy spending

European Union climate and energy bosses launched two projects on Monday designed to unleash more than a billion euros ($1.1 billion) of spending on measures to save energy and adapt to climate change. The pilot projects will help to prove that a much bigger Commission scheme to turn 21 billion euros of EU and European Investment Bank funds (EIB) into at least 315 billion euros of public and private sector investment can work, the Commission says. Read more at uk.reuters.com

Top 10 Carbon Market Predictions for 2015 from The Climate Trust

The trends, which range from increased climate change adaptation measures at the state and city-level to new protocols for agriculture and forestry, were identified by The Climate Trust based on interactions with their diverse group of working partners—government, utilities, project developers and large businesses. Read more >>>
PRWeb

IPCC chief: Rich nations must fund stabilization of climate

The chairman of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) R K Pachauri remains hopeful that the developed world would be more forthcoming once all countries provide their 'Intended Nationally Determined Contributions' (INDCs) or in other words a clear roadmap of their voluntary actions to fight the threat of climate change. Pachauri, who is also member of India's Prime Minister Council on Climate Change spoke on the course of action India should adopt to move to a low-carbon growth path, and the future of Green Climate Fund--meant to help developing countries in their mitigation and adaptation goals. Read more >>>
The Economic Times

$10 billion Green Climate Fund wants immunity from prosecution

UN-linked climate change fund intended to finance climate change projects around the world, is determined to win sweeping U.N.-style immunities from prosecutions for its global operations. If the GCF succeeds in its broader negotiations, not only billions but eventually trillions of dollars in climate funding activities could fall outside the scope of criminal and civilian legal actions, as well as outside examination, as the Fund, which currently holds $10 billion in funding and pledges, expands its ambitions. Read more >>>
Foxnews

Lima Call for Climate Action Puts World on Track to Paris 2015

UNFCCC in its press release says that a new 2015 agreement on climate change, that will harness action by all nations, took a further important step forward in Lima following two weeks of negotiations by over 190 countries. The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) will form the foundation for climate action post 2020 when the new agreement is set to come into effect. Countries also made significant progress in elevating adaptation onto the same level as action to cut and curb emissions. Read more >>>
UNFCCC

UNEP's Adaptation Gap Report:Climate Change Adaptation Costs Likely to Hit 2-3 Times Current Estimates of $70-100 Billion per Year

The report finds that, despite adaptation funding by public sources reaching $23-26 billion in 2012-2013, there will be a significant funding gap after 2020 unless new and additional finance for adaptation is made available. Read more >>>
UNEP