Blue Zone

COP28 draft calls for fossil fuels to be reduced or eliminated
The first draft of a UN climate action deal, which calls for the reduction or outright elimination of fossil fuels, was unveiled by negotiators on Friday, setting the stage for a heated debate during the COP28 negotiations in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.

Disagreements about the use of fossil fuels have already emerged during the COP28 negotiations, and the UK and Singapore’s draft plan for their “phase-down/out” is expected to spark intense debate.

Although there has been a growing number of calls for specific limits on the use of coal, oil, and gas to be included in a final deal, any attempt to restrict the use of fossil fuels will face fierce resistance.

President Macron calls on G7 nations to ‘put an end to coal’ by 2030
At Friday’s UN climate talks, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the G7 to “commit to putting an end to coal” by 2030 in order to set an example for other nations. President Macron referred to investing in coal as “truly an absurdity” during his speech at the COP28.

UAE president announces $30 billion fund to bridge climate finance gap
United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed announced the establishment of a $30 billion (€27.5 billion) climate fund for “Global Climate Solutions” that targets reaching $250 billion in investment by the end of the decade.

UN chief says ending fossil fuel use is only way to save ‘burning planet’
World leaders were informed by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that merely reducing or eliminating the use of fossil fuels would not be sufficient to halt global warming.
During his speech at the COP28 conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated, “We cannot save a burning planet with a fire hose of fossil fuels.” “We cannot achieve the 1.5-degree limit until we completely give up the use of fossil fuels. not cut down. not wane.”
He asked governments to assist in pressuring the fossil fuel industry to invest in the switch to renewable energy sources, even if it meant imposing windfall taxes on business earnings.

Green Zone

Contrasting to the exclusivity of the Blue Zone, the Green Zone is a more inclusive space designed to engage the wider public. NGOs, businesses, and diverse stakeholders are also welcome to visit the Green Zone. It serves as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and showcasing solutions to climate-related issues.

The key functions of the Green Zone include:
o Accessibility: Open to the public, visitors can explore breakthrough climate innovations, cutting-edge tech, and interactive exhibits. Moreover, there will also be inspiring art installations, film screenings, and talks across this zone in Expo City Dubai.
o Cultural Exhibitions: Pavilions and exhibitions highlight climate-related initiatives, innovations, and sustainable practices.
o Dialogue and collaboration: The Green Zone facilitates meaningful conversations among attendees, promoting collaboration to address climate challenges collectively.

Here are some Highlights of Day Two events that took place inside the Green Zone:
• Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure: During his participation in the Student Energy Summit 2023, HE Eng Ahmed Al Kaabi, Assistant Undersecretary for Electricity, Water, and Future Energy Sector at MoEI, highlighted the importance of energy security and diversification as main priorities for the UAE that can only be achieved through cross-border collaboration and innovation.

• McKinsey & Company “Adapting to climate risks and ensuring an inclusive transition to net zero” Panel: Reaching net-zero emissions must happen hand in hand in hand with inclusive economic growth. At the same time, leaders need to adapt to mounting climate risks that could affect the lives and livelihoods of people around the world. Throughout the discussion, they explored how communities, countries, and companies can ensure an inclusive net-zero transition while building resilience to climate risks.

• ENA- December 1/2023, Office of the Prime Minister stated that Ethiopia’s Green Legacy pavilion at the COP28 Green Zone demonstrates the country’s efforts and commitments in tackling climate change and enabling food security.

Climate Action Innovation Zone

“Anticipating the Unveiling: Eagerly Awaiting the Launch of the Climate Innovation Zone at COP28”

The Climate Innovation Forum at the Conference of Parties aims to showcase cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of climate initiatives. The conference will feature a carefully curated selection of innovations spanning various themes such as artificial intelligence, satellite technology, big data, clean energy, industrial decarbonization, advanced materials, hydrogen, energy storage, and more.

The Innovation Zone, which is inclusive and free to attend, will serve as a focal point for climate leaders, pioneers, and practitioners seeking opportunities to meet, network, learn, share, and engage in business during COP28. This year, the Climate Innovation Zone will spotlight four major areas: the Sustainable Innovation Forum, Sustainable Finance Forum, Hydrogen Transition Summit, and Agri-Food System Summit.

The Climate Innovation Zone’s events will span from December 4th to 8th of December, offering a technical focus that makes them highly anticipated at COPs due to their valuable insights and contributions to the field.

The Sustainable Innovation Forum, scheduled for December 4-5, will run alongside COP28, bringing together 1,000 global climate leaders to drive transformative innovation and concrete climate action.

On December 6, the Sustainable Finance Forum, in partnership with UNEP FI and PRI, will be one of the major finance sector events at COP, convening banks, insurers, and investors to accelerate a nature-positive, net-zero, and equitable global economy.

The Hydrogen Transition Summit, set for December 7, will unite 500 stakeholders from the hydrogen supply chain to expedite partnerships, policy development, and finance necessary for advancing the global hydrogen agenda.

Concluding the series, the Agri-Food Systems Summit on December 8, held in technical collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN FAO), aims to catalyze innovation for transforming global agri-food systems towards a sustainable, resilient future during COP28.

Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/cop28-spotlights-global-warnings-about-pain-climate-change-2023-12-01/
https://www.france24.com/en/environment/20231201-king-charles-calls-for-cop28-turning-point-as-world-leaders-address-climate-summit
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2023/12/01-02/
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144212
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/12/01/cop28-climate-summit-dubai-world-leaders/