COP28 kicked off in Dubai yesterday, 160 world leaders will reflect on global progress in chasing 2030 targets.
In a statement, UNFCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), said climate action needs to align with the goal of keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius climate-resilient world within reach.
The opportunities to accelerate climate action exist, but need to be scaled up.
A report recently published by UN Climate Change shows that national climate action plans (known as nationally determined contributions, or ‘NDCs’) would collectively lower greenhouse gas emissions to 2% below 2019 levels by 2030, while the science is clear that a 43% reduction is needed.
The 2023 Yearbook, launched at the conference, has a strong focus on the conclusion of the first global stocktake at COP28, which got underway in Dubai today.
The global stocktake is a process for countries and stakeholders to see where they’re collectively making progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and where they’re not.
Governments will take a decision on the global stocktake at COP28, which can be leveraged to accelerate ambition in their next round of climate action plans due in 2025.
“There can only be one response to the stocktake: renewed ambition and accelerated action, climate action that charts a course to 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build resilience,” said Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, UN Climate Change.