EDITORS DESK
We find ourselves already in the first day of the “ber” months, and before long, the year will come to a close. These months are set to be filled with a series of events, deadlines, milestones, etc. For those in the environmental realm, the upcoming days and weeks are of utmost importance due to the arrival of the 28th Conference of Parties, or more known as COP28.
Scheduled to take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), this edition of the conference holds exceptional significance. The effects of climate change are not only read on this paper or online but are now palpable in the scorching heat and torrential downpours we experience.
Just this week, a level 4 typhoon hit the northern parts of the country, with more such storms projected to follow, each capable of wreaking havoc on our fragile landscape. In instances without typhoons, the land is scorched by extreme heat, driving the heat index to a record-breaking 43 degrees — hot enough to fry an egg under the sun.
The significance of COP28 becomes evident when considering that it pertains to our shared home. Would you not want to engage in discussions about how our own home will survive in the years to come? We show great sensitivity toward the architecture, design, furniture, and other aspects of our own houses, yet we fail to exhibit the same level of care when addressing the ground on which our houses stand — planet earth itself.
What purpose does it serve to future-proof our houses when the earth is deteriorating due to human abuse and neglect?
A fundamental fact to recognize is that our nation is among the most climate-vulnerable globally, owing partly to our Pacific Ocean location. As such, the outcomes of COP28 will inevitably impact us directly.
According to the UN, COP is an “annual meeting where United Nations member states convene to assess progress in dealing with climate change and formulate a climate action plan within the guidelines of the UNFCCC (the formal name for the meetings is the Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change or the United Nations Climate Change Conference).” The inaugural COP was held in Berlin in 1995, with last year's COP27 taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
According to McKinsey, the significance of COP can be summarized as follows: “COP decisions can have global authority; in the UN system, powerful nations such as the US and Russia possess equal voting rights as tiny island nations like Vanuatu or São Tomé and Príncipe. Plus, decisions can be made only by consensus. UN member states send representatives to participate in the negotiations, (while) observer organizations, industry representatives, and lobbyists also attend.”
What happened at the last COP?
There were “significant roadblocks” that remained on the path to achieving net zero. Specifically, a 1.5°C pathway is not yet achievable, according to McKinsey. To reduce emissions to the extent required, leaders and their organizations will need to take additional, urgent action toward emissions reductions and removals.
What will happen this year?
COP28 UAE is an opportunity for the world to come together, course correct, and drive progress.
“We need everyone to be more ambitious in the fight against climate change to meet the goals and ambition of the Paris Agreement. COP28 will emphasize a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to climate action. Underscoring all efforts are the principles of transformation, solidarity, pragmatism, and inclusivity. The world needs a COP of action and a COP for all.”
By hosting COP28, the UAE is “focusing on practical and positive solutions that drive progress for the climate and the economy, as well as provide relief and support to vulnerable communities.”
The COP28 UAE Presidency believes that governments and the private sector must work closely together in order to address climate change.
Why is COP28 important for the Philippines?
According to the Climate Reality Project Philippines, one of the critical policy points in this year’s COP is the “operationalization of a loss and damage fund to finance the needs of communities disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.”
“The most contentious issues that would have to be settled are determining who pays for the funds, how much, and what will be the basis for access, reporting, and financing mechanisms.”
“At its core, the envisioned loss and damage facility requires high-emitting countries to acknowledge their historical role in the climate crisis and take responsibility for it. Ideally, the facility is to be governed by rules and modalities that leverage the best available science and risk data and lift the burden of proof from vulnerable communities.”
Another focal point in COP28 is the progress of the Climate Finance Delivery Plan, outlining how the developed world will fulfill its promise to mobilize $100 billion annually from 2020 onwards to address the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing nations.
Superficially, it might seem that vulnerable countries like the Philippines are driven by financial motives. However, this is far more deeper — an appeal for climate justice that has long been denied.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sums this issue very clearly: “The impacts of climate change and the resources needed to address climate change impacts are distributed unequally around the world. Low-income countries, and vulnerable populations within those countries, are more susceptible to climate-induced loss and damage. Globally, the 10 percent of households with the highest per capita emissions contribute 34 to 45 percent of global household greenhouse gas emissions, while the bottom 50 percent contribute 13 to 15 percent.”
Armed with this understanding, it becomes clear why the Philippines' voice — and your voice — must be heard at COP28. More issues will unfold in the days ahead, and the Environment and Sustainability section of this paper is committed to providing our readers with comprehensive insight into COP28 and its related subjects.
You have to be aware of what’s happening before it’s too late, since, like what the old adage says, “knowledge is power.”
(Johannes L. Chua is the editor of the Environment and Sustainability section.)