COP28, the pivotal conference in the climate change discourse that just took place in the United Arab Emirates, has illustrated an intricate blend of collaboration, ambitious commitments, and complex negotiations.
Sultan Al Jaber, the President of COP28, led the way in setting a proactive agenda. A significant achievement under his leadership was the operationalization of the loss and damage fund for developing countries, which saw generous contributions from a host of nations.
Investor-centric issues were a major focus, emphasizing progress in net-zero commitments and readiness to advance further within a supportive policy landscape. A collective call to action on scaling private capital mobilization in support of the UN’s sustainable development goals highlighted the need for greater collaboration, especially regarding adaptation and resilience.
Energy and Minerals Minister Salem bin Nasser Al Aufi, heading Oman’s delegation, engaged with energy company leaders, discussing production, market dynamics, and the economic aspects of carbon emission reduction. Shaikh Humaid bin Ali al Maani, Head of the Global Affairs Department at the Foreign Ministry, highlighted Oman's commitment to sustainable development, stressing the importance of natural resource conservation for climate action. Under its "Oman: a Sustainable Future" initiative, the Sultanate is focusing on reducing greenhouse emissions, environmental protection, and renewable energy, notably through the Oman Sustainability Centre. These efforts align with Oman's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change set a significant trajectory for multilevel climate action. The Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) received support from 66 countries. The meeting put forward a 10-point statement to enhance the role of subnational governments in climate decision-making and climate finance, and to strengthen multilevel partnerships for climate action.
Cities and regions were at the forefront, with several announcing plans to become nature positive, supported by various programs and initiatives. Over a thousand cities committed to transparent, science-aligned net-zero targets through the Race to Zero campaign, and numerous cities and regions are implementing resilience actions through the Cities Race to Resilience.
A Rapid Response Plan to the Global Stocktake was also a key focus. This plan aims to transition countries to a more sustainable economy, addressing poverty, job creation, hunger crisis, and community resilience, while protecting nature and reducing emissions. Three critical action areas identified were fossil fuels, food and land use, and resilience.
Governments were urged to move away from fossil fuels and triple renewable energy capacity, shift investments from fossil fuels to renewable sources, and enhance energy efficiency. Additionally, there's an emphasis on increasing the share of electric vehicles and improving public transit, walking, and bicycling infrastructure. Ensuring a just transition that supports workers and communities reliant on the fossil fuel industry was highlighted as crucial.
The conference's Multilevel Action, Urbanization & Built Environment/Transport Day expanded the stakeholder base, forging multilevel engagements and partnerships. This day was key in providing a pragmatic pathway forward to include sub-national actors’ inputs in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It also clarified mechanisms for financing sub-national action, highlighting their potential contributions to mitigation and adaptation in the Global Stocktake.
COP28 ambitious agenda and the active participation of various stakeholders underscore a global commitment to addressing the pressing challenges of climate change, setting the stage for impactful actions and policies.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
