What the world can expect from COP28 in Dubai

“We need to shift from incremental steps to transformational progress that delivers for everyone, everywhere,” is the rallying call from COP28 President-Delegate, Dr Sultan Al Jaber.

COP28 takes place in Dubai later this year, from 30 November to 12 December, and ahead of the world’s flagship annual climate conference leaders are gathered in Germany at the Bonn UN Climate Change Conference.

“We need a COP of action, a COP of solidarity, and a COP of unity,” Dr Al Jaber said in Bonn.

He added: “Many of you have devoted your entire careers to this cause. You know what is at stake. Many of us remember that moment in Paris when the world chose to take a different path to a better, sustainable zero carbon future. We know we aren’t moving fast enough, but we also know that we have the power to make the difference, if we act in solidarity.”

Dr Jaber pledged to do more than merely pay lip service to young people, indigenous peoples, and those in the global south usually left without a seat at the negotiating table.

“At COP28, we are going to be laser-focused on concrete and ambitious solutions that will allow us to bridge the gaps by 2030,” he said. “And we will include all stakeholders to drive an inclusive plan of action that gets us moving in the right direction. We need to shift from incremental steps to transformational progress that delivers for everyone, everywhere. And that work begins right here in Bonn.”

Check out our roundup video from last year’s COP in Egypt, where our editor-at-large and host of the Inside Ideas podcast, Marc Buckley, along with Paula Maultasch, the creative executive producer of Inside Ideas, asked leaders what made them #ACopHalfFull when looking to the future.

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