COP28 begins today, the first review of eight years of climate action

AUntil December 12th, the United Arab Emirates, one of the main oil producers, welcomes thousands of people from all over the world to the so-called climate summit, to debate climate change and the fight against global warming.

One of the main highlights of COP28 will be the holding of the first meeting to take stock of what has been done to combat global warming, as a result of the Paris Agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, approved in 2015 at COP21.

It will be the first test for the countries, in light of the agreement that imposed as objectives the reduction of emissions and the limitation of the increase in world temperatures to two degrees Celsius (ºC) and, if possible, 1.5ºC above the average values ​​of the pre- industrial.

From previous summits, the discussion on mitigation and adaptation to climate change returns, with progress expected in these areas, in addition to the formalization of the “loss and damage” mechanism, approved at last year’s summit in Egypt but not yet operational.

At COP28, leaders from almost every country in the world are expected, including Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, who arrives in Dubai today and will participate in the summit on Friday and Saturday, and on the remaining days the Government will be represented by Minister of Environment and Climate Action and secretaries of State from different sectors.

Portugal will, for the first time, have an autonomous pavilion (until now it participated as part of the European Union’s representation), where it will host more than three dozen initiatives during the summit.

This would also be the first summit with the participation of the leader of the Catholic Church, but Pope Francis canceled the trip to Dubai, on doctor’s orders, following flu and lung inflammation that affect him.

In addition to the big issues, several thematic days and side events are scheduled, dedicated to topics such as health, finance, energy, urbanization, transport, youth, decarbonization, oceans, water, agriculture, or energy.

The last climate conference was held in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, with unambitious results.

Expectations are once again low, largely due to the fact that COP28 will be presided over by Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry of the United Arab Emirates and president of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and that just a few days before the start of the conference was once again involved in controversy, after documents were released revealing that the meetings prepared for Sultan Al Jaber before meetings with representatives of foreign governments systematically contained key points about the two companies he heads.

Without contesting the authenticity of the documents, the official denied that he had tried to use his position to promote UAE oil and energy projects in several countries.

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