The COP28 conference officially opens.

The COP28 conference officially opened at 13:00 on November 30 (local time) in Dubai - the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - with a call to accelerate action on the global climate. As the environmental crisis worsens everywhere, this is a crucial moment to "save the world ".

The COP28 conference officially opens - caught between interests and responsibilities, can the world be 'saved'? Pictured: The Jaenschwalde power plant near Peitz, eastern Germany. (Source: Getty Images)

According to the host country UAE's schedule, the important events will take place sequentially from November 30 to December 12; however, they may extend beyond the planned timeframe, as has happened in previous conferences, if negotiations remain unresolved.

This year's 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) will face more pressing and stressful issues than ever before, while the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is warned to be "non-negotiable!"

The most important part of the conference will begin on December 1st with a two-day summit of leaders, in which approximately 140 heads of state and prime ministers will attend and present their national climate change plans. Around 70,000 delegates, ranging from national leaders and government officials to experts, negotiators, business leaders, journalists, civil society groups, and climate activists from around the world, will come together to find answers to the question, “What can the world do to combat the current devastating climate crisis?”

The critical moment demands action.

COP28 took place at a crucial time for global action on climate change. Record-high temperatures and the devastating impacts of extreme weather events such as wildfires, floods, storms, and droughts worldwide are making addressing climate issues increasingly urgent. The core question that needs to be addressed urgently is what the world must do to ensure that the weather does not get much hotter and that climate change does not cause even more severe damage.

Scientists believe the world has little time left to act to keep global temperature rise below pre-industrial levels, as stipulated in the Paris Agreement at COP21 in 2015. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) considers this goal crucial to avoid catastrophic consequences.

Speaking to the media, Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, emphasized that COP28 was the last chance to make credible commitments to begin cutting fossil fuel emissions. “We need credible results in Dubai to start reducing emissions from oil, coal, and gas. The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is non-negotiable.”

According to the host country UAE's plan, COP28 will focus on four main objectives: accelerating a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition; addressing climate finance; placing nature, people's lives, and livelihoods at the center of climate action; and striving to make COP28 the most comprehensive conference ever.

Accelerating the energy transition is expected to be a key issue as countries remain divided on the use of fossil fuels worldwide. The European Union (EU) is seeking to push for a world-first agreement to phase out the use of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, globally.

However, other blocs and countries participating in the COP28 negotiations are likely to oppose this. Major fossil fuel producers like Saudi Arabia and developing countries currently rely on these fuels to power their economies.

In addition, climate finance is also expected to be a topic of discussion. Previously, at COP27, participants agreed to establish a fund to compensate for the losses suffered by vulnerable countries due to the impacts of climate change.

COP28 will also be the first time world leaders will come together to assess the progress made towards the goals set at COP20 in 2015.

According to observers, the challenges facing COP28 are significant, as it is time for the world to seriously reassess the entire process of implementing the provisions of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change – a “historic” agreement that for the first time established a binding goal for the whole world to limit the increase in global temperature.

Bridging the gap between commitment and action.

COP28 attracted public attention from the very beginning, with controversy erupting regarding the venue for the event. The UAE is one of the world's top 10 oil-producing countries. Furthermore, the host country appointed Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the CEO of a leading oil company, as the President of COP28.

Oil, like natural gas and coal, is a fossil fuel. It is one of the main causes of climate change because it releases greenhouse gases that warm the planet, such as carbon dioxide, when burned for energy. Furthermore, Al Jaber's oil company is still planning to expand production. The organization 350.org emphasizes: "This is equivalent to appointing the CEO of a tobacco company to oversee a conference on cancer treatment."

In response, Al Jaber argued that he was uniquely positioned to push the oil and gas industry to take action. Furthermore, as Chairman of the renewable energy company Masdar, he could oversee the development and adoption of clean technologies such as wind and solar power.

Mia Moisio, an expert from the Climate Institute, points out that, in reality, no major country has plans to strengthen its climate protection program this year. Even if all commitments are fulfilled by 2030, the world is still heading towards global warming of around 2.4 degrees by 2100, compared to pre-industrial levels.

The key events of the COP28 conference in the UAE will take place sequentially from November 30th to December 12th, or longer. (Source: COP28)

At COP27, the agreement that wealthy nations would contribute to a climate fund to offset the damage they cause was considered a breakthrough. This fund will help countries particularly hard hit by climate change cope with its consequences. Now, this fund must be filled as committed.

But many things remain unclear, such as which country will contribute the money, how much will it be? Which country will benefit and how much will they actually receive?

According to Oxfam expert Jan Kowalzig, the 2015 Paris Agreement was a breakthrough at the time. But so far, the results have been negligible. Too little action has been taken. Many countries continue to rely heavily on coal, oil, and gas, and therefore have been unable to make clear commitments to phasing out fossil fuels at climate summits.

Will COP28 truly deliver groundbreaking results? Observers believe expectations are low, but instead of the old goals, a new, more ambitious objective may be agreed upon in Dubai, aiming to expand renewable energy and establish a specific financial mechanism for climate change-related damages and losses.

The outcome of the assessment of the Paris Agreement's implementation remains unclear, but in-depth analyses suggest that the world still has a long way to go to achieve its climate goals. According to United Nations predictions, instead of a 1.5°C increase, the Earth is heading towards a nearly 3°C rise by the end of this century.

Even this increase can only be achieved if all the commitments of the countries are fulfilled. Otherwise, the tensions will escalate even further. It seems that the actions of the countries do not match their commitments. Therefore, a key question at COP28 will be how to bridge the gap between commitments and actions.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hoi-nghi-cop28-chinh-thuc-khai-mac-giua-loi-ich-va-trach-nhiem-the-gioi-co-the-duoc-giai-cuu-252004.html