COP28 in quotes – everything you need to know about the UN Climate Change Conference
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With COP29 kicking off in November 2024, we’re recapping everything that took place at last year’s UN climate conference. And who better to hear it from than those who took part? Read on to learn more, straight from the source…
COP28 – the UN Climate Change Conference – is an annual meeting where government officials, world leaders, scientists and businesses come together to discuss progress and make plans to tackle the climate crisis.
According to the UN, these conferences are the world's "only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world." Iran, Yemen and Libya are the only countries not to have ratified their membership.
As 2023 ended, COP28 marked the conclusion of the first "global stocktake" of the world’s efforts to meet the Paris Agreement – a 2015 treaty that set out goals to hold, "the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels." Later, this goal was revised as it became clear that we need to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of this century.
This can only be achieved by significantly reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. But the UN is also focused on strengthening economic resilience and supporting more vulnerable nations as we all transition away from fossil fuels and continue to embrace renewables.
What did this global stocktake look like? And what was decided at COP28?
Here's everything you need to know – straight from the source:
The COP28 agreement
The stocktake recognizes the science that indicates global greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, to limit global warming to 1.5°C. But it notes Parties are off track when it comes to meeting their Paris Agreement goals."
United Nations
UN Climate Press Release
COP28 marks the "beginning of the end" of the fossil fuel era
Whilst we didn’t turn the page on the fossil fuel era in Dubai, this outcome is the beginning of the end. Now all governments and businesses need to turn these pledges into real-economy outcomes, without delay.”
Simon Stiell
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary
Acknowledging the gravity of the issue
We are living through climate collapse in real time – and the impact is devastating."
General António Guterres
UN Secretary-General
Climate change poses a more immediate threat for some of the nations represented
We will not sign our death certificate. We cannot sign on to a text that does not have strong commitments on phasing out fossil fuels."
Cedric Schuster of Samoa
Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States
Collective efforts are the only solution
A successful COP28 is not about a single individual or nation, but the collective will and concerted efforts of all countries in these negotiations. The science compels: phase out fossil fuels rapidly, accelerate renewable energy adoption, and radically scale up finance.”
Mary Robinson
Former President of Ireland, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and former UN Climate Envoy
An overdue response
Humanity has finally done what is long, long, long overdue."
Wopke Hoekstra
European Union Commissioner for Climate Action
The climate crisis is a human crisis
If we act together to safeguard our precious planet, the welfare of all our people will surely follow."
King Charles III
United Kingdom
The indigenous perspective
We are only 5% of the world’s population, but 82% of the world’s protected biodiversity is within indigenous territories."
Sonia Guajajara
First Indigenous Peoples minister of Brazil
Leaving a legacy of hope
We can harness the remarkable power of atoms and of matter in order to build a clean energy future, leaving a legacy of hope – a sustainable and thriving world for generations to come."
John Kerry
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
A victory for science
This is a true victory for those who are sincere and genuine in helping address this global climate challenge. This is a true victory for those who are pragmatic, results-oriented and led by the science."
Sultan Al Jaber
COP President and UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change
Helping businesses do better
I urge governments to help industry make the right choice – by regulating, legislating, putting a fair price on carbon, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and adopting a windfall tax on profits."
General António Guterres
UN Secretary-General
Panasonic used its platform at COP28 to broaden global understanding of avoided emissions
To help decarbonize society, Panasonic is firmly resolved to maximize avoided emissions in all businesses based on collaboration with our customers and partners worldwide. Through these efforts, Panasonic truly wants to help realize the ideal society which our founder envisioned 90 years ago."
Yuki Kusumi
Representative Director, President & CEO, Group CEO, Panasonic Holdings Corporation
The next conference will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024
On March 21, 2024, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) COP 28 Presidency, the Azerbaijani COP 29 Presidency and the Brazilian COP 30 Presidency sent out a letter to parties outlining a Roadmap to Mission 1.5°C. Its aim was simple:
To significantly enhance international cooperation and the international enabling environment to stimulate ambition in the next round of nationally determined contributions, with a view to enhancing action and implementation over this critical decade and keeping 1.5°C within reach.
We look forward to seeing more progress and unity as nations and businesses alike accelerate ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, bridge the gap on socioeconomic discrepancies and improve the outlook for generations to come.