UN Climate Change Conference Dubai 2023

What is COP28?

This is a global climate change summit, where world leaders will discuss and agree on the action required to tackle the climate emergency. COP stands for Conference of the Parties and this year marks the 28th COP summit - hence COP28 - and it's taking place from 30 November to 12 December in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

What do we want to see at COP28?

Action now. In 2023, the dire consequences of climate change are already evident, following another year of unprecedented climate events. COP28 must prioritise this crisis, urging substantial action on national emissions targets and a decisive move away from fossil fuels. The world is falling short of measures to safeguard people and nature. Our plea is for nature to take centre stage, intertwined with considerations of food, climate adaptation, and the crucial connection between international commitments and Sustainable Development Goals (read about them here).

The Wildlife Trusts have three priorities for negotiators representing the United Kingdom in Dubai:

1. Faster action to reduce emissions. Climate change poses monumental threats to communities and the natural world. Lack of progress to reduce emissions means the goal from the 2015 Paris Agreement to stop global temperature increasing by more than 2 degrees hangs in the balance. COP28 must catalyse greater action to phase out fossil fuel use globally, including in the UK. This is a code red+ for humanity and our natural world.
   
   
2. Put nature recovery centre stage. The UK was visible and vocal at the Montreal UN biodiversity negotiations in December 2022. We want to see the same level of ambition for nature recovery brought to the table in Dubai. Nature recovery and food production must be viewed through the same lens and all parties should pledge to increase high-quality nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, including in the UK.
   
   
3. Champion global goals on adaptation and the loss and damage fund. Last year, COP27 promised support for developing countries through a ‘loss and damage’ fund. We expect details on the size and structure of the fund at COP28. There must also be significant progress on climate adaptation, an area where the UK has been consistently weak. The UK Government’s latest National Adaptation Programme, published in June, does not go far enough to help the country prepare for climate change and is now subject to a legal challenge.

COP 28 video updates

Update 1, November 30

Update 2, December 4

Update 3, December 6

Update 4, December 8

Update 5, December 11