COP28 Dispatch

What Congress Needs to Know from Dubai

Welcome! Today is Youth, Children, Education and Skills Day at COP28.

It may be the end of the workweek for most people, but it is just the beginning of week two at COP28. The goal of Youth Day is to raise awareness about how climate change disproportionately impacts young people, and to encourage meaningful participation from young people in the UNFCCC process.

This year’s COP28 Youth Climate Champion is Shamma Al Mazrui, UAE’s minister of state for youth affairs. Al Mazrui, the first-ever youth climate champion with a ministerial position, was appointed by the UAE to amplify the participation of those under the age of 35 in this year’s conference. She spoke at a press conference about youth participation across all thematic days and highlighted events such as the youth stocktake, the youth dialogue forum, and a wide array of climate education opportunities.

Missed Wednesday’s edition? Check it out here. We are also compiling key COP28 announcements and reports throughout the conference—check back for updates.

Confused by COP terminology and acronyms? Check out EESI's glossary of terms and other helpful guides in the Resources section! Looking for more information, reach out to Anna at [email protected].

We will be back in your inbox with the weekend edition of COP28 Dispatch on Sunday evening!

Key Takeaways for Congress

At the COP plenary, delegates heard from the subsidiary bodies about the draft decisions they recommend be taken by the COP and what work still remains to be done. (Negotiations)
Congressional delegations have begun to arrive in Dubai. (Congress at COP28)
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced the first-ever U.S. Ocean Justice Strategy. (U.S. Updates)
Ministers launched the Group of Friends of Climate Action on Culture, a coalition of 27 countries, co-chaired by the UAE and Brazil. (Other News)

Negotiations

Negotiators actively engage with draft text. Credit:
IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis.

COP plenary: The COP28 Presidency hosted the plenary meeting of COP, officially kicking off the second half of the conference. During this session, countries and observers heard reports from the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body on Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) on recommended draft decisions to be taken by the COP, as well as work that must continue in the week to come. Countries and observer constituency groups also had the opportunity to make interventions. For a complete analysis of negotiations that have taken place so far, listen to Earth Negotiations Bulletin’s (ENB’s) COP28 Halfway Point webinar featuring ENB Lead Jennifer Allan. For comprehensive updates on the negotiations today, see the ENB’s daily report (detailed summary) and highlights (quick overview).
- EESI Briefing: What’s on the Table for the Negotiations?

Ministerial-led negotiations: During the second half of COP28, pairs of ministers work with all countries to resolve political issues preventing agreement on decision text. The COP28 Presidency has paired up ministers from Chile and Australia on adaptation, Norway and Singapore on mitigation, Egypt and Canada on finance, and Denmark and South Africa on the global stocktake. The ministers have already been consulting informally with the different negotiating blocks since before COP started to find landing zones for the different issue areas. Because the negotiations on the global goal on adaptation are so far behind, the subsidiary body chairs will continue to lead technical negotiations while the ministers lead political-level consultations. Heads of delegations also met today to make progress on the third draft of the global stocktake text.

Fossil fuels keep the spotlight: Fossil fuels—and securing the strongest possible language phasing out their use in the negotiating text—will continue to be part of the negotiations going into the second half of COP28. At a press conference on the state of negotiations, Oil Change International Global Industry Campaign Manager David Tong pointed to “incredible momentum” at COP and around the world for a phaseout of fossil fuels, citing that at the start of COP28, 106 countries called for a phaseout or phasedown across all sectors. Climate Action Network Executive Director Tasneem Essop, however, said that this momentum has not translated into progress in the negotiation room.

Adaptation and finance losing steam: At the same press conference, Essop reported that technical-level negotiations on adaptation and related finance are proving to be a challenge. Brandon Wu of ActionAid USA added that finance negotiations seem to have taken a back seat to talks on a fossil fuel phaseout.
- EESI Briefing: Congress and International Climate Finance

Calling for a strong global stocktake: This morning, a coalition of over 800 governments, mayors, scientists, NGOs, businesses, faith leaders, and young people published a letter addressed to the COP28 Presidency outlining three recommendations for negotiations on the global stocktake: a “just and equitable” phaseout of fossil fuels in parallel to tripled global renewable energy capacity and doubled energy efficiency capacity; a major scaling up of public and private finance from developed countries; and an end to land degradation, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and other ecosystem loss by 2030.
- EESI Resources: The First Global Stocktake (briefing); Creating Policies, Coalitions, and Actions for Global Sustainable Development: A Conversation with Sir Robert Watson and Christiana Figueres (briefing)

Congress at COP28

Members of Congress started arriving at COP28’s Expo
City today. Credit: EESI.

Statements from members of Congress headed to Dubai
- Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) stated in a press release: “I look forward to attending COP28 and demonstrating the United States’ ironclad commitment to standing with our allies in the fight against climate change. Together we must chart a path forward for slashing dangerous climate pollution, making our communities more resilient to the devastating effects of climate change, and above all, dramatically reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.”
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) stated in a press release: “COP28 can be a success if we achieve progress toward a methane leak crackdown, a strong carbon border adjustment to punish foreign polluters, a loss and damage fund with contributions from the industries responsible, and true transparency on corporate climate influencing.”
- Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) stated in a video via X/Twitter: “I’m honored to be part of a bipartisan group that is [going to COP28] to present some of the best ideas from Congress. I’m a co-founder and co-chair of the Climate Solutions Caucus here in the Senate, and we’ve been working on ways to finance fighting climate change, promoting conservation, making important contributions to food security, helping the world prepare for what is coming in terms of climate change, and helping the U.S. decarbonize our industrial sector, our transportation sector.”

Building climate solutions in Congress: To parallel Wednesday’s Built Environment Day at COP28, Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act of 2023 (S.3439). The bill will channel federal funding toward research and development to advance the deployment of low-emission cement, concrete, and asphalt products in the U.S. Check out Wednesday’s Dispatch for coverage of building-sector decarbonization at COP28.
- EESI Article: “Achieving Sustainability in the Built Environment, Brick by Brick”

U.S. Updates

U.S. Center at COP28. Credit: EESI.

Innovation for the ocean: At the Ocean Pavilion, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad joined scientists and business leaders at a panel on innovative tools and resources for ocean adaptation. Panelists highlighted how data, research, and information technology are key to scaling up and delivering climate innovation for oceans. “The observations and information that power the blue economy can evolve to inform our understanding of the changing climate and the ocean on Earth. We need that understanding to enhance our forecasting and prediction capabilities, especially in the ocean,” said Spinrad.
- EESI Article: "Making Waves: The Importance of Oceans at COP28"

Action on plastic pollution: At an event hosted by the Department of State and members of its End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative, State Department Acting Assistant Secretary Jennifer Littlejohn touted the EPA’s 2023 Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, DOE’s new Strategy for Plastics Innovation, state-led efforts to tackle single-use plastics and improve recycling, and USAID’s Save Our Seas initiative to clean up the most highly polluted ocean regions. The U.S. is an active participant in negotiations for the Global Agreement to End Plastic Pollution. A draft text was developed last month in Kenya, and negotiations will resume in April 2024.
- EESI Article: “Reducing Plastic from Production to Pollution: A California Nonprofit’s Vision for a Plastic Free Future for All”

Women climate entrepreneurs: The Department of State and the Coalition for Climate Entrepreneurship (CCE), a public-private partnership launched at COP26, held a pitch event at the U.S. Center showcasing early-stage climate solutions developed by female entrepreneurs. Four women took the stage to represent the following companies: The Surpluss, a platform that guides sustainability partnerships based on synergies between local governments and businesses; MENSAPO, a start-up that specializes in advanced modular recycling technology that can transform organic waste into reusable resources; Forest Hero, a data analysis platform that facilitates responsible reforestation and carbon offsetting; and ClimaCrew, a company enhancing marine resilience and economic opportunity through the seaweed sector in India. The judges selected Forest Hero Founder Dana Shukirbayeva to receive funding and other support from CCE.
- EESI Article: “Gender Equality Can Drive the Electric Vehicle Industry Forward”

Youth send a message: At a U.S. Center event on youth voices in climate action, CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory announced the first-ever U.S. Ocean Justice Strategy, a plan to ensure equity and environmental justice are part of federal ocean and Great Lakes activities. Building on the announcement, a panel of young speakers stressed the importance of action over words, calling for improved public school education on climate, a fossil fuel phaseout, and greater opportunity for young people to engage on climate issues.

300+ groups call for the end of LNG: In a letter addressed to President Biden, more than 300 organizations from over 40 countries called for the U.S. to end permitting for new liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals domestically and to refrain from supporting international LNG projects. The letter points out that COP28’s emphasis on methane reductions is undermined by the expansion of LNG exports from the U.S. “Any push for a phaseout of all fossil fuels at COP28 risks falling flat if the world's leading LNG exporter shows no signs of changing course,” the letter’s authors wrote.

Around the World

COP28 Youth Climate Champion Shamma Al Mazrui speaking
at the daily press conference of the COP Presidency on the
importance of including young voices in the UNFCCC process.
Credit: UNFCCC.

Adaptation update: A U.N. Climate Change side event provided updates on key developments, challenges, and recommendations around national adaptation plans (NAPs). The Least Developed Countries (LDC) Expert Group reported that to date, 23 out of 46 LDCs have submitted finalized NAPs, with 15 others still drafting their plans and 7 yet to initiate the process. Key challenges identified in formulating and implementing NAPs include lack of technical capacity, limited access to financial support, and the need for formal climate risk and vulnerability assessments to inform government planning. Rosa Morales of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee described how the committee’s NAP Task Force works with countries to address these challenges, such as by providing technical support. In early 2024, the Adaptation Committee will release an interactive country profile portal on the state of adaptation action in every UNFCCC member country.
- EESI Briefing: Climate Adaptation Programs across Agencies

Mapping the route to net zero: At a U.S. center event on the Net-Zero Government Initiative, Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House CEQ, announced that 11 more countries have joined the initiative, committing to decarbonize their government emissions. At the event, representatives of countries both old and new to the initiative discussed their work toward government decarbonization, including focuses on buildings, vehicles, public procurement, and food. Nigerian Minister of State for the Environment Iziaq Adekunle Salako, representing the first African nation to join the initiative, declared, “For us to go net zero, we must act now, we must collaborate, and we must be accountable.”
- EESI Article: “Reimagining Public Food Procurement in the 2023 Farm Bill”

Australia mobilizes climate funding: Australia pledged $100 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility and $50 million to the Green Climate Fund. The latter marks Australia’s official return to the Green Climate Fund after withdrawing in 2018 under the previous prime minister. Both pledges had been announced at the Pacific Islands Forum last month, but the amounts were not specified until yesterday.

Other News

Ministers gather for the High-level Ministerial Dialogue for Culture-based Climate Action. Credit: IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis.

Culture and climate: A High-Level Ministerial Dialogue for Culture-based Climate Action focused on the need for increased inclusion of cultural preservation within climate conversations, including in negotiations at COP29. At the meeting, Malta’s Minister for Culture Owen Bonnici noted that almost one third of our World Heritage sites are located in vulnerable coastal areas, meaning that priceless cultural artifacts are at risk of climate-induced loss or damage. The ministerial dialogue concluded with the launch of the Group of Friends of Climate Action on Culture, a coalition of 27 countries led by the UAE and Brazil. More countries are expected to join in the coming week.

NDC lessons learned: A side event hosted by the UNFCCC and U.N. Development Programme reviewed lessons learned from the first round of NDC development. All panelists agreed that the last round of NDC development was rushed. They found that countries that communicated long-term strategies in their last NDCs were significantly better positioned for success, and that the development and implementation of NDCs must engage civil society and Indigenous groups. Developing countries also need help filling information gaps to make more accurate decisions in developing NDCs. To make projects more implementable and investable, Sebastian Camilo Carranza Tovar, Colombia’s representative from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, suggested linking projects within NDCs to clear policy and financial instruments. Under the current NDCs, only 27 countries successfully integrated net-zero targets into national legislation.

Climate finance mobilized: At the COP Presidency’s daily press conference, Director General Majid Al Suwaidi highlighted that COP28 has mobilized over $83 billion for climate action, the loss and damage fund has received pledges amounting to $720 million, and the ALTERRA Fund was created with a vision of generating $30 billion from the private sector for renewable energy projects.

Ambition at the urban level: At this side event, speakers from academia, government, and other sectors highlighted the importance of considerations like air quality, water policy, multilevel governance, and climate finance when ensuring nationally determined contributions incorporate urban areas. As UN-Habitat’s Urban Climate Report will reveal in 2024, about 66% of NDCs have urban content, meaning work still remains to integrate cities in national-level climate commitments.

A natural connection between climate and biodiversity: The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted last year at COP15 of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity and contains 23 global targets aiming to address biodiversity loss by 2030. A side event at COP28 focused on the importance of implementing the GBF and climate commitments together. Experts explored holistic strategies that accomplish both goals, such as effective land-use practices and the conservation and restoration of biodiversity-rich areas. Hans-Otto Pörtner, former co-chair of IPCC’s Working Group II, emphasized that climate change mitigation through ambitious emission reductions can unlock the potential of nature to help stabilize the climate through ecosystem services like carbon storage.
- EESI Article: “Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss: Twin Crises, Interconnected Solutions”

Resources

EESI resources

Article series: Quick reads connecting international climate talks to Congress
Briefing series: What Congress Needs to Know About COP28
- Congress and International Climate Finance
- What's on the Table for the Negotiations?
- The First Global Stocktake
Climate Change Solutions: Bi-weekly newsletter covering climate, energy, and environmental issues
COP28 Announcement Tracker: Key Announcements from the 2023 U.N. Climate Summit
COP28 Report Tracker: Key Climate Reports Launched at the 2023 U.N. Climate Summit
U.S. Leaders at COP28: Updates on Members of Congress and Other U.S. Officials at the 2023 U.N. Climate Summit
EESI's United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Glossary of Terms

Tracking the negotiations

CarbonBrief: Reporting and analysis on the U.N. climate talks, with in-depth tracking of country positions in the negotiations
COP28 Resource Hub: World Resources Institute's extensive set of resources on the climate negotiations
Earth Negotiations Bulletin: A play-by-play of the negotiations, plus expert analysis from the International Institute for Sustainable Development
ECO Newsletter: The climate advocate’s perspective from Climate Action Network International

Background and logistics

U.A.E. COP28 Presidency website: Priorities, details, and logistics for the negotiations from this year’s host country
UNFCCC COP28 website: Conference details and all updates on documents produced during the negotiations
Congressional Research Service: Reports related to the UNFCCC

Questions about COP28?

Reach out to EESI Policy Manager Anna McGinn with your questions. We will get back to you or include the information in an upcoming newsletter.

Thanks for reading!

This newsletter covering COP28 will be running from November 30 to December 12.
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Staff contributors: Daniel Bresette, Molly Brind’Amour, Alison Davis, Amaury Laporte, Anna McGinn, and Nicole Pouy

About EESI

EESI is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing science-based solutions for climate change, energy, and environmental challenges to achieve a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. Founded on a bipartisan basis by members of Congress, EESI has been informing policymakers about the benefits of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental conservation since 1984.

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