Climate negotiators get down to business at COP28 Summit
COP28 is approaching the end of the first week and the kings, presidents and prime ministers have flown off. Now, hundreds of seasoned climate diplomats must get down to the tough job of negotiating a text that everyone can agree on.
Adnan Amin, who as chief executive officer of COP28 is one of Sultan Al-Jaber’s most senior lieutenants, said in an interview there are several areas that are likely to test negotiators over the rest of the summit.
The tussle over whether the final agreement should commit to a “phase down” or “phase out” fossil fuels is prominent as always and different formulations are currently being shopped.
But Amin highlighted two other areas, both key concerns of the world’s poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries, where consensus will be challenging: finance and adaptation.
Rich nations were supposed to provide $100 billion a year in climate finance for emerging economies starting in 2020, a milestone they appear to have finally reached two years late.
The debate this year will lay the groundwork for a key decision due at COP29 on a new target for financing.
“To a lot of developing countries, the finance outcome has become about the restoration of trust in the process,” Amin said. “So the developing world will want to see some commitments in the agreement on finance.” It’s not just about getting to a number, according to Amin, who said developing nations want “clarity” on solutions to raise the trillions required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Developing countries will also need financial support to become more resilient to the extreme weather caused by climate change. Amin said there’s a lot of work to be done on the issue, known as “adaptation” in climate diplomacy parlance.
