Dossier

COP 28: Climate Conference in Dubai

From November 30 to December 12, 2023, the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) will take place in Dubai. This dossier contains analyses and comments on the most important negotiating points.

COP28 is being held under the banner of the urgently needed global energy transition: More and more governments and international civil society are calling for a global agreement on a rapid, comprehensive and just phase-out of all fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas.

At the same time, there is a great risk that carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other risky technologies and carbon offsetting mechanisms will be promoted at COP28 in order to delay and water down the fossil fuel phase-out.

Following the breakthrough in negotiations at COP27 for a new fund for the massive losses and damage already caused by the climate crisis (Loss and Damage Fund), COP28 will continue to negotiate its implementation. The first Global Stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement is also due and will once again show how dramatically far we are from climate-just pathways to limiting the climate crisis to 1.5 degrees.

COP27 in Egypt already took place in a very restrictive context in which civil society is subject to severe repression. The situation in the United Arab Emirates is even more precarious: due to brutal repression, no active independent civil society exists.

Der Leiter der COP28, Sultan Al Jaber, steht allein vor einer grün-trürkisfarbenen Wand. Er ist von der Seite zu sehen und wirkt müde.

COP 28: No outcome is better than Article 6

Analysis

At the climate conference in Dubai, the implementation details of the controversial Article 6.8 work programme was agreed. An assessment from an Indigenous perspective.

By Tamra Gilbertson and Tom BK Goldtooth

Grüne Bäume in der Nähe des Flusses während des Tages

The global debt crisis in many developing countries and its interconnectedness with the climate crisis

Analysis

In the climate negotiations at COP28, the question of financing the climate crisis will be at the forefront of the debate. However, many countries in the Global South are struggling to channel extra funds into climate action, due to the unfolding debt crisis.

By Sarah Ribbert

Compromise Transitional Committee Outcome Falls Short of Expectations and Climate Justice

Analysis

With the specter of failure looming, the Transitional Committee adopted a last-minute package of recommendations for the new Loss and Damage Fund (LDF), which needs to be approved at COP28. Why is no one happy with it?

By Liane Schalatek

Read a summary here

Cover with the skyline of Shanghai in the background

China’s Climate Transition: Outlook 2023

Report

To successfully achieve a peaking and rapid decline in emissions, China will need increased efforts on energy efficiency, a successful transformation of the economic growth model, or even higher investments into clean energy.

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GCF Replenishment Sends Some Signals – Just Not the Right Ones

Analysis

Weeks ahead of COP28, the pledging conference in Bonn for the replenishment of the Green Climate Fund sends some important signals - the wrong ones.

By Liane Schalatek

Southeast Asian Perspectives on the Operationalization of the Loss & Damage Fund

Policy Brief

For Southeast Asian countries, the Loss & Damage Fund should be a standalone Fund, easily accessible to local communities, and open to innovative financing.

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