ABDULLAH ABU ZAID (CAIRO)
Simon Stiell, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, considers that the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) is an opportunity through which we can renew our ambition and accelerate climate action.

COP28 also presents an opportunity for collective efforts and the necessary support to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Working together can correct the current climate course, fulfil the commitments that align with keeping the phenomenon of global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, provide the necessary financial resources to fulfil these commitments, and activate the Loss and Damage Fund.

Stiell said in an exclusive interview with Aletihad that there is an urgent need to renew the ambitions of the Green Climate Fund and make progress in doubling adaptation funding towards the long-term goal of raising $100 billion annually to face the effects of climate change. 

COP28 can facilitate these efforts and make financial flows consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Simply, climate action cannot progress without commitments to climate finance.

He pointed out that at COP28, the world will gather to assess what we have done since the Paris Agreement, the first official global assessment, and draw a path to 2030 that will put us on the right track to limit global warming so that it does not exceed 1.5C, in addition to incorporating the transformation into the financial agenda to make correcting this course possible.

Paris Agreement
According to statistics issued by the World Health Organisation, achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement could save the lives of about a million people annually by 2050 by reducing air pollution alone. The latest estimates from top experts suggest that the value of the health gains achieved by climate action will be close to double the cost of mitigation policies at the global level.

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change explained that the northern hemisphere experienced its hottest summer ever last year, with heatwaves fuelling devastating wildfires that damaged health and caused environmental losses. In its annual climate update, the World Meteorological Organisation stated that between 2023 and 2027, there is a 66% probability that the planet’s temperature will rise above 1.5C from pre-industrial levels.

He added that it is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by the year 2030, which requires a rapid reduction in the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels. This can be done, but the world is not on this path now, Stiell added.

Climate change has become the most important issue on the global stage, with international discussions always emphasising the necessity of joint action among all parties to promptly address these changes that clearly threaten humanity. This was clear this year, with record-high summer temperatures, which had a significant global impact.

Recent discussions at the United Nations General Assembly focused on the need to address the impacts of climate change, showing that this issue is a top priority for the world. Special focus  was put on the climate file ahead of COP28, hosted by the UAE.

Environmental Disasters
Disasters such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, landslides, and wildfires have become more frequent and severe as a result of climate change. The countries that were the most affected by these issues have been asking for financial assistance for years to deal with the consequences. The term economic losses covers the loss of homes, lands, farms, and businesses.

The affected countries have requested funds of up to $100 billion annually, which will be provided to them to help them with climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.