As the world turns its gaze towards the shimmering skyline of Dubai, where the COP28 climate summit is set to unfold, the absence of one key figure casts a long, unwelcome shadow over the proceedings. President Joe Biden, the leader of a nation often seen as pivotal in the climate conversation (responsible for about 15% of global CO2-e emissions), has opted out, his chair at the negotiation table conspicuously empty.
But John Kerry will be there, right?
Yes.
But this absence is not just a matter of protocol.
It's a symbol of the widening gap between political promises and environmental imperatives. The United States, a behemoth in oil and gas production, is on track to break records in fossil fuel output, a stark counterpoint to the urgent calls for decarbonization echoing through the halls of the UN.
It’s a sharp contrast to the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres’ plea,
“Humanity has opened the gates of hell” by unleashing worsening heatwaves, floods and wildfires seen around the world and that a “dangerous and unstable” future of 2.8C global heating, compared with the pre-industrial era, awaits us if radical action is not taken.”
But I’m not surprised.
Pre-COPs have a history of ambitious words and underwhelming final results.
And that’s not it…
The plot thickens, as leaked documents reveal the UAE's ambition to use COP28 as a stage for oil and gas deal-making. It’s a revelation that, while shocking, hardly surprises the cynics among us.
Since Sultan Al Jaber was named the President-Designate of COP28 UAE in January of 2023 I felt something was off. Actually, I felt weird about Dubai when Dubai was announced as the setting for a UNFCCC COP… but anyway.
This move, akin to playing both sides in a game where our planet's future is the ultimate stake, speaks volumes about the complex interplay of economics and the environment.
Meanwhile, China (approx. 29% of global emissions), often painted as the antithesis of environmental stewardship, is quietly spearheading an energy revolution in its remote deserts. This pivot towards renewable energy, ambitious and far-reaching, offers a glimmer of hope, a testament to the potential for change.
But don't have too much hope.
Everyone will tell you to.
But don’t.
Keep asking for more. Global efforts from the international public sector have talked (and traveled) a lot since the Kyoto Protocol but not delivered the ambitious results set out by the international community of nations that partake in the UNFCCC.
The upcoming summit's agenda is fraught with challenging topics for example:
The urgent need to reduce methane emissions, a greenhouse gas x4 more potent than carbon dioxide.
The debate over the equitable distribution of emissions reductions.
The contentious issue of fossil fuel phase-out.
These discussions are not just academic. They are imperatives. They are the trigger for a much needed paradigm shift in our collective futures.
But fear not!
The UK has brought reinforcements.
In a striking example of unexpected allies, the world of sports steps into action. The England and Wales Cricket Board, joins the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and has decided to set ambitious targets for emissions reduction.
Praised be the lord… our saviour's have come.
On a more serious note, it’s a reminder that the climate crisis touches every corner of our lives, from the energy we use to the games we play… hmmm
As the leaders and delegates converge on Dubai, the air is thick with anticipation, anxiety, and misguided hope. The choices made here, in this city of contrasts, will ripple across continents and generations. The world watches, waits, and wonders: Will COP28 be a turning point, or just another footnote on our way to climate armageddon?
So what do I think of COP28 a day before it starts?
COP28 and COPs in general are more than just summits.
I see them as a mirror reflecting humanity's collective ambitions, fears, and the paradoxes that will define the era of climate change.
As the desert sun sets on Dubai, the world holds its breath, hoping for a dawn of decisive action and real change by our honorable representatives.
But hope is not a strategy.
The clock ticks, the planet warms, and the dance of diplomacy continues. As for the rest of us mere mortals, who watch from the sidelines, and let the powerful of this world take our decisions ... all that is left now is to prepare our apologies to our daughters, sons and their children. For we have failed them. Baby boomers, GenX and Millenials have not done enough to secure sustainable futures of the generations to come.
Sorry Colomba. It's not fair.