Context: A key draft note of the ongoing COP-28 Climate Summit in Dubai (UAE) has been released recently.
Key points:
- During the COP28 Summit in Dubai, negotiators at the climate meeting made a small initial move towards taking stronger action on adaptation, while still working towards a common ground on fossil fuel elimination.
- A preliminary text on establishing global goals for adaptation has been proposed, and countries have agreed to use it as a foundation for further discussions and negotiations.
- Negotiators were still having informal discussions to find common ground on various topics, including the controversial fossil fuel phase-out issue.
COP Climate Summit:
- The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed by 154 countries in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit.
- The treaty’s goal is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent harmful human interference with the climate system.
- It came into effect in 1994, and member countries have been meeting annually since then.
- Currently, there are 198 countries that have signed the Convention.
- The first Conference of the Parties (COP) was held in Berlin in 1995 and focused on implementing the UNFCCC.
- At this meeting, it was decided that annual discussions on climate change and emissions reductions would take place.
- COP-8 was held in New Delhi, India, which remains the only COP to have taken place in India.
- The 28th COP is scheduled to be hosted by the United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
What is the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)?
- The draft text called ‘Global Goal on Adaptation’ aims to establish a universal objective for adaptation, similar to the global goal of keeping temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius for mitigation.
- Developing countries have long requested increased attention and resources for adaptation.
Various issues discuss on the draft text:
- The text emphasises the need to
- Address climate-induced water scarcity
- Ensure climate-resilient food and agriculture production
- Enhance resilience against climate-related health impacts and other shared concerns.
- It also calls for countries to assess their risks and vulnerabilities, develop and implement adaptation plans, and establish monitoring and evaluation systems.
Some concerns have been raised regarding the GGA:
- Developing countries expressed their dissatisfaction with the adaptation draft, stating that it needs significant improvement.
- The draft only focuses on developmental issues and does not provide information on how these objectives will be achieved or funded.
- It suggests creating a two-year work program to develop indicators for measuring progress on adaptation goals.
- Critics argue that the targets are unclear and do not address important areas such as water security, health, and livelihoods.
Way Forward:
- The adoption of the GGA framework requires all countries to assess climate hazards, create adaptation plans, and establish early warning systems by specific deadlines.
- However, its implementation relies on the agreement of all nations due to the significant financial resources needed for adaptation efforts.
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