Welcome to the first day of EESI’s COP28 coverage! This year’s climate conference will have the highest-ever attendance, with more than 100,000 people expected to be involved virtually and in-person in Dubai, U.A.E. Tomorrow, about 170 heads of state are expected to speak at the World Climate Action Summit, the high-level segment of COP, and over the course of the two-week meeting. 

During the official opening of the summit, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber highlighted the importance of using the warming limit of 1.5°C (2.7°F) as the “North Star” in the coming negotiations. Participants can also expect to hear robust discussion about the Loss and Damage Fund, the first global stocktake, increasing climate finance, and the COP28 presidency’s own fossil fuel ties in the coming days.

• About $429 million has already been pledged to the Loss and Damage Fund. (Negotiations)
• More than a dozen members of Congress and their staff will arrive in Dubai next week. (Congress at COP28)
• The World Meteorological Organization released a report confirming that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on Earth since record-keeping began. (Other News)

• $429 million: On the first day of COP28, countries pledged about $429 million to establish and operationalize the heavily-discussed Loss and Damage Fund. Pledges were made by the E.U. ($145 million), the U.A.E. ($100 million), Germany ($100 million), the U.K. ($75 million), the U.S. ($24.5 million), and Japan ($10 million). Many more heads of state are expected to announce pledges in the coming days. Countries also concluded a year-long set of meetings with an agreement on the basic parameters of the fund during today’s opening session.
  • EESI Briefing: Climate Change Loss and Damage

• North Star of 1.5°C: The opening of the conference has two main sections—the opening ceremony and the adoption of the agendas for the negotiations. At the opening ceremony today, COP27 President Sameh Shoukry, foreign minister of Egypt, handed off the gavel to COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber, who is both the minister of industry and advanced technology for the U.A.E. and the head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Al Jaber called for a strong outcome on the first global stocktake, committed to an inclusive and transparent process, and declared that his “North Star” is 1.5°C. He emphasized the U.A.E.’s decision to engage oil and gas companies in climate discussions. He also highlighted that COP28 will be the first COP to host a climate and health ministerial-level dialogue. 
  • EESI Briefing: What’s on the Table for the Negotiations?

• Teaching climate action to run: Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UNFCCC, and Jim Skea, the new chair of the IPCC, also spoke during the opening ceremony. Stiell said that the world is still focused on climate action “baby steps,” but we need to “teach climate action to run.” He called for a signal of the terminal decline of the fossil fuel energy system and a just transition away from fossil fuels. He also made clear that countries are expected to update, and hopefully make more ambitious, their national climate commitments, called nationally determined contributions (NDCs), by 2025. Skea highlighted the strong scientific evidence underpinning the need to act. He will be leading the IPCC’s 7th Assessment Report process, due to release its findings by 2028. 
  • EESI Briefing: Key Findings from the Newest Global Assessment Report on Climate Change

• Youth Climate Champion: The U.A.E. is following in the example of last year’s COP by appointing a Youth Climate Champion (previously “Youth Envoy”). Shamma Al Mazrui, the country’s minister of community development, has been appointed to this role, making her the first-ever Youth Climate Champion with a ministerial position. Al Mazrui will work to amplify the participation of those under the age of 35 in this year’s conference.

• $100 billion: Germany and Canada announced that the commitment made by developed countries to provide $100 billion per year in international climate finance by 2020 was likely met in 2022 and was “certainly met in 2023,” according to their interpretation of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) analysis. The anticipated final report from 2022 is expected to confirm this preliminary information. The representative from Canada underscored that, while this is an important step, it is not nearly enough, and that they are looking forward to setting the next “transformational finance goal at COP29.” 

• Congressional delegations are set to arrive soon: More than a dozen members of Congress—from both chambers and both parties—and more than two dozen staff are expected to attend COP28 next week. Headlining the delegations are House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.). Conservative Climate Caucus leaders Reps. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) also plan to attend. House Climate Solutions Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.) will also lead a bipartisan group. Senators led by Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) will be accompanied by a bipartisan delegation of Congressional staff. 

• House Energy and Commerce Committee holds COP28 hearing: House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders convened a Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials hearing yesterday to “examine lessons of America’s experience and success in reducing emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.” Previewing the message House Republicans plan to bring to Dubai, Energy and Committee Chair Rodgers; Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.); and Environment, Manufacturing, & Critical Materials Subcommittee Chair Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) issued a joint statement saying, “[W]e look forward to celebrating America’s energy and environmental record and discussing how the U.S.—not China—continues to lead on unleashing clean energy across the board.” A follow-up subcommittee hearing is scheduled for December 5. 

• Senators and representatives raise concerns about fossil fuel ties to COP28: A group of Congressional Democrats sent a letter to the UNFCCC Consultation on Net Zero Recognition taking aim at oil and gas companies. The letter expresses “profound concern that current rules governing the UNFCCC permit private sector polluters to exert undue influence on UNFCCC processes.” Several signatories, including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), will travel to Dubai next week to attend the negotiations. 

• What can Congressional delegations expect at COP28? Following the first official day of COP28, EESI’s team on the ground has some thoughts to share. 
  • The first global stocktake will be a top agenda item. The U.S. and other countries will use this process, mandated by the Paris Agreement, to recalibrate their nationally determined contributions. There will be significant pressure to build on historic investments recently provided by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act to ensure the U.S. lives up to its climate goal.
  • Another key area of negotiations with ties to Congress is international climate finance, including financial commitments to the new Loss and Damage Fund as well as appropriations for the Green Climate Fund and other sources of grants and loans to developing countries. 
  • There is already a massive presence of U.S. stakeholders in Dubai, with more expected to arrive each day. Each group will have its own agenda, priorities for the negotiations, and plans to participate in side events and other meetings. There is considerable and substantive awareness and understanding of U.S. policies and investments as well as criticisms of shortcomings —real and perceived—awaiting the Congressional delegation. 
  • Hydration, breathable fabrics, and comfortable shoes are a must. Dubai is in the desert, not far from the equator. It is hot and dry, although the venue has an impressive amount of shade provided by trees, artwork, pavilions, and retractable sunshades. 

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.
If you thought this newsletter was interesting, forward it to someone you know!
If you were forwarded this edition, sign up here.

Staff contributors: Daniel Bresette, Molly Brind’Amour, Alison Davis, Amaury Laporte, Anna McGinn, and Nicole Pouy