SUMMARY of the Article “Ambitious Outcome” by Aisha Khan, Dawn [Published on December 19th, 2023]
The recently concluded Conference of Parties, COP28, in Dubai has yielded historic outcomes, shaping the future of global climate action. Under the UAE COP presidency, the Global Stock-Take (GST) produced significant agreements, marking the first call for action to transition away from fossil fuels. The operationalization and initial capitalization of the Loss and Damage Fund progressed, and record-breaking pledges of $85 billion in climate action were made. COP28 reflects the climate regime’s struggle to address the urgency of climate action and transition into an era of implementation. Despite consensus and incremental gains, COPs signify ongoing negotiations with wins, disappointments, and carried-over loopholes. The success of COP28 will be measured by the delivery of emissions cuts, adaptation action, and finance through the Dubai-Baku-Belem roadmap. The GST sets the stage for accelerated action until 2025, leading to COP29’s central focus on finance. The call for mobilizing financial flows aligns with the Paris Agreement’s Article 2.1c, emphasizing the need to address debt burdens and strengthen resilience. The decision’s seriousness is evident in its follow-up plans, including a two-year dialogue starting at COP29 and a ‘Roadmap to Mission 1.5’ under the guidance of COP28, COP29, and COP30 presidencies. Although lacking detail on transitioning from fossil fuels, the text language raises hopes for significant emissions reductions in this decade. COP28 featured new announcements and pledges, including the UAE-led Finance Framework, record-breaking Green Climate Fund pledges, and finance for loss and damage. Notably, COP president Sultan Al Jaber highlighted the need for injecting more capital into multilateral development banks. Other highlights include pathways for alignment on climate, food, and nature goals ahead of COP30 in Brazil, a High Ambition Coalition, and the US-China Sunnylands statement supporting the final package. For Pakistan, translating GST into NST (National Stock-take) and conducting a multidisciplinary discussion on global climate agreements’ impact is crucial. An analytical review can guide coping strategies, considering economy-wide impacts, increasing revenue streams, and fulfilling mitigation commitments and adaptation needs. COP28 marked a new start for Pakistan’s delegation, adopting a ‘whole of society’ approach and fostering collective ownership in framing the country’s stance. Future steps involve balancing national gaps with international obligations for a conducive environment for long-term investments.
Easy/Short SUMMARY:
The recently concluded COP28 in Dubai produced historic outcomes, with the Global Stock-Take (GST) calling for a transition away from fossil fuels, progress in the Loss and Damage Fund, and record-breaking climate action pledges. Despite ongoing negotiations and COPs reflecting wins, disappointments, and loopholes, COP28’s success hinges on emissions cuts, adaptation action, and finance through the Dubai-Baku-Belem roadmap. The GST sets the stage for accelerated action until 2025, with COP29 focusing on finance, mobilizing financial flows, and addressing debt burdens. COP28 featured new announcements and pledges, including the UAE-led Finance Framework and record-breaking Green Climate Fund pledges. COP president Sultan Al Jaber emphasized injecting more capital into multilateral development banks. For Pakistan, translating GST into NST and conducting an analytical review on the impact of global climate agreements is crucial. COP28 marked a new start for Pakistan’s delegation, adopting a ‘whole of society’ approach and fostering collective ownership. Future steps involve balancing national gaps with international obligations for long-term investments.
SOLUTIONS of The Problem:
1. Accelerated Climate Action:
- Countries should accelerate climate action based on the outcomes of GST until 2025, emphasizing emissions cuts and adaptation measures.
2. Financial Mobilization and Alignment:
- COP29 should focus on mobilizing and aligning financial flows with the Paris Agreement’s Article 2.1c, addressing debt burdens, and strengthening resilience.
3. Detailed Transition Plan from Fossil Fuels:
- Develop a detailed transition plan away from fossil fuels, incorporating ‘just,’ ‘orderly,’ and ‘equitable’ measures to ensure significant emissions reductions.
4. Enhanced Funding for Loss and Damage:
- Countries should contribute to enhancing the Loss and Damage Fund, bridging the gap between pledges and needs for implementing adaptation plans.
5. Financial Framework Enhancement:
- Strengthen the UAE-led Finance Framework, supporting it with robust investments, such as the $30bn clean transition fund and $4.5bn for energy transition investment in Africa.
6. Multilateral Development Bank Support:
- Inject more capital into multilateral development banks to support mobilizing and distributing finance for transition, as emphasized by COP president Sultan Al Jaber.
7. Global Cooperation on Climate, Food, and Nature Goals:
- Establish pathways for global cooperation on climate, food, and nature goals ahead of COP30, fostering alignment and shared objectives.
8. High Ambition Coalition Strengthening:
- Strengthen the High Ambition Coalition to serve as a central force in pushing outcomes on fossil fuels, adaptation, and finance, ensuring global cooperation.
9. Consensus Building on Transition Plans:
- Focus on building consensus on transitioning from fossil fuels, addressing concerns and ensuring an inclusive and orderly shift.
10. Analytical Review for National Impact Assessment:
- Conduct an analytical review in Pakistan to assess the impact of global climate agreements, guiding coping strategies, considering economy-wide impacts, and enhancing revenue streams for mitigation and adaptation needs.
IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the Article:
- COP28 Summit Location: Dubai
- Global Stock-Take (GST) Outcomes:
- Call for transitioning away from fossil fuels.
- Operationalization and initial capitalization of the Loss and Damage Fund.
- Record-breaking $85 billion pledges in climate action.
- Finance Pledges and Frameworks:
- UAE-led Finance Framework.
- Green Climate Fund pledges.
- Finance for loss and damage, including $655.9 million.
- UAE’s financial contributions, including a $30bn clean transition fund and $4.5bn for energy transition investment in Africa.
- New announcement to re-channel $200m in special drawing rights to the IMF Resilience and Sustainability Trust Fund.
- Pathways for Alignment and Global Cooperation:
- Pathways for alignment on climate, food, and nature goals ahead of COP30.
- High Ambition Coalition for outcomes on fossil fuels, adaptation, and finance.
- US-China Sunnylands statement supporting the final package.
- National Initiatives by Pakistan at COP28:
- Transitioning to a ‘whole of society’ approach.
- Hosting 29 events at the Pakistan Pavilion, showcasing climate calamities’ impact and fostering engagement.
- Next Steps for Pakistan:
- Translate GST into NST (National Stock-take).
- Conduct a multidisciplinary discussion on the impact of global climate agreements.
- Analytical review to guide coping strategies, considering economy-wide impacts and revenue stream enhancement.
MCQs from the Article:
- What is the significance of COP28’s Global Stock-Take (GST) outcomes?
A. Record-breaking pledges
B. Call for transitioning away from fossil fuels
C. Operationalization of Loss and Damage Fund
D. All of the above -
What is the focus of COP29 according to the article?
A. Adaptation measures
B. Emissions cuts
C. Finance, mobilizing financial flows, and addressing debt burdens
D. Global cooperation on climate, food, and nature goals -
What financial contributions did the UAE announce at COP28?
A. $10bn clean transition fund
B. $30bn clean transition fund and $4.5bn for energy transition investment in Africa
C. $50bn for loss and damage
D. $100bn for Green Climate Fund -
Who emphasized injecting more capital into multilateral development banks at COP28?
A. UN Secretary General
B. COP President Sultan Al Jaber
C. US President
D. China President -
What is the next step recommended for Pakistan after COP28?
A. Expand outreach
B. Translate GST into NST and conduct an analytical review
C. Increase financial pledges
D. Host more events at international pavilions
VOCABULARY:
- Operationalisation (noun) (عملی بنانا): The action or process of making an idea or system active and effective.
- Maturing (verb) (پختہ ہونا): Developing fully or reaching a state of readiness.
- Incremental (adjective) (افزائشی): Relating to or denoting an increase or addition, especially one of a series on a fixed scale.
- Loopholes (noun) (خلل یا خامی): A means of escape, especially an ambiguity or inadequacy in the law or a set of rules.
- Arbiter (noun) (تفصیل): A person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter.
- Conducive (adjective) (موصول): Making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible.
- Whole of Society (phrase) (تمام معاشرت): An approach involving the entire society, emphasizing collective participation and responsibility.
- Coping Strategies (noun) (حکمت عمل): Strategies adopted to manage and overcome challenges or difficulties.
- Calamities (noun) (آفتیں): Events causing great and often sudden damage or distress.
- Multidisciplinary (adjective) (بہ مختلف فنون کا): Involving the use of several disciplines or academic subjects.
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dawn.com
Ambitious outcome
BY Aisha Khan
THE recently concluded Conference of Parties, COP28, held in Dubai delivered a package of agreements setting out the pathway for global climate action in the years to come. The outcome of the Global Stock-Take (GST) under the UAE COP presidency, was historic in many ways. It called for action to transition away from fossil fuels for the first time, made headway in the operationalisation and initial capitalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund and saw record breaking ($85 billion) pledges in climate action.
The narratives emerging at COP28 reflect a climate regime struggling to come to terms with the need for urgency in climate action and maturing to move to an era of ‘implementation’. However, despite consensus and incremental gains, COPs remind us that negotiations are part of a broader agenda and not an endgame, with some wins, some disappointments and a few loopholes carried forward to the next meeting. The ultimate arbiter of COP’s significance will be the delivery of emissions cut, adaptation action, and finance through the Dubai-Baku-Belem roadmap.
The GST has set the stage for accelerating action between now and 2025 when parties are expected to submit their next Nationally Determined Contributions. This will make finance the central focus of COP29, highlighting need for mobilising and aligning financial flows with Article 2.1c of the Paris Agreement and finding a way to incorporate Means of Implementation in the finance package to address debt burdens and forward thinking in strengthening resilience.
The seriousness of the GST decision can be seen in its call for a follow-up, including a two-year dialogue on implementing its outcomes to start at COP29 and a ‘Roadmap to Mission 1.5’ to enhance global cooperation under the guidance of the presidencies of COP28, COP29 and COP30. Notwithstanding the lack of detail on transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, the use of ‘just’, ‘orderly’ and ‘equitable’ in the text language raises hope of significant emissions reductions in this decade and the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel-dominated era.
COP28 was historic in many ways.
COP28 also saw many new announcements and pledges, ranging considerably in their significance and credibility. The UAE-led Finance Framework, along with record-breaking pledges to the Green Climate Fund and new finance for loss and damage of around $655.9 million can be interpreted as a shift in politics of financing.
The UAE announced a package of finances as a contribution to delivering on the framework with a $30bn investment fund for clean transition, $4.5bn for energy transition investment in Africa, and a new announcement plan to re-channel $200m equivalent in special drawing rights to the IMF Resilience and Sustainability Trust Fund. The gap between adaptation finance pledges and the need for implementing adaptation plans signal a need for heightened political attention. Significantly, COP president Sultan Al Jaber called on the need to inject more capital into multilateral development banks to support mobilising and distributing finance for transition.
Other highlights of COP28 include pathways for alignment on climate, food and nature goals ahead of Brazil’s COP30 and a High Ambition Coalition to serve as the centre of gravity for pushing outcomes on fossil fuels, adaptation and finance. The US-China Sunnylands statement ensured a basis of support for the final package, but without a major shift in their pre-COP positions.
The fiercely contested negotiations went into overtime to reach consensus but successful shuttle diplomacy in the last 48 hours played a role in gavelling the agreement.
For Pakistan, it’s important to translate GST into NST (National Stock-take) and convene a multidisciplinary discussion on the impact of global climate agreements on the country and the region. An analytical review to assess the impact will help in setting the course for coping strategies, inclusive of economy-wide impacts and options, for increasing revenue streams to meet mitigation commitments and adaptation needs.
The climate change ministry-led delegation at COP28 marked a new start by taking a ‘whole of society’ approach, working closely with all relevant stakeholders to foster collective ownership in framing Pakistan’s stance. The 29 events hosted at the Pakistan Pavilion included high-level segments with diverse themes that provided opportunity for expanding outreach and showcasing the impact of climate calamities, as well as networking opportunities for deepening engagement and forging new partnerships.
The next steps include balancing national gaps with international obligations and moving towards a point of convergence, where complementarities create an enabling environment for long-term investments.
The writer is chief executive of the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change.
Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2023