Advanced Search
November 27, 2023
The annual U.N. climate negotiations offer a significant platform for organizations to release new climate reports. These reports cover both adaptation and mitigation and propose climate solutions from multiple perspectives.
Additionally, the U.S. federal government will release a number of plans to reduce emissions and increase climate resilience during COP28. These include steps the United States plans to take domestically and internationally.
EESI tracks the daily happenings at COP28 through our newsletter, COP28 Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from Dubai. Much of the content of this article is drawn directly from COP28 coverage in the newsletter. You can view all issues of COP28 Dispatch here. For a breakdown of key announcements from COP28, check out our COP28 Announcement Tracker.
Highlighting local adaptation needs: The Global Center on Adaptation released its 2023 report, Stories of Resilience: Lessons from Local Adaptation Practice, ahead of the first global stocktake. The report emphasizes that local communities in the Global South are at the forefront of climate impacts and therefore must take the driver’s seat in global adaptation and resilience efforts. However, international finance has not matched the needs and priorities of these communities, which also face bureaucratic and technical barriers in applying for adaptation funding. In order to meet the $400 billion needed in adaptation funding, effective financing efforts should connect communities directly to international financial institutions.
Climate in U.S. polls: The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication released a new report, Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, based on a national survey conducted in October 2023 in partnership with George Mason University’s Center for Climate Change Communication. While the report overall focuses on the domestic political landscape, it contains a chapter dedicated to U.S. participation in international climate action.
State of the climate: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a report, Provisional State of the Global Climate in 2023, confirming that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on Earth since record-keeping began. This conclusion is based on observed ocean and land temperatures through the month of October, with the last two months of 2023 unlikely to change WMO’s ranking. Other key takeaways of the WMO report: the three main greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—reached record-high levels in 2022 and have continued to increase in 2023; satellite records show the rate of sea level rise in the last decade has been more than double the rate of the previous decade; Antarctic sea ice levels reached a record low; and heavy socio-economic impacts and loss of life occurred this year as a result of severe weather events, including extreme heat, wildfires, and flooding.
Not enough climate finance: A COP-focused special report from Environmental Finance, COP28: Financing Net Zero, highlighted that just 16% of global climate finance needs are being met. In order to meet those needs, climate finance would need to increase by at least 590%.
COP28 Presidency’s recommendations: The COP28 Presidency, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) released a report, Tripling Renewable Power and Doubling Energy Efficiency by 2030: Crucial Steps Toward 1.5°C. The report underscores key actions to stay on track to limit warming, including tripling global renewable power generation capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
WE CAN achieve zero emissions, for real: In a new report, The Need for Real Zero Not Net Zero: Shifting from False Solutions to Real Solutions and a Just Transition, the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International illuminates the link between net-nero pledges and artificial solutions. According to its current parameters, the “net zero” label enables governments and industries to greenwash and procrastinate on their climate commitments while sometimes relying on unreliable technology, which all leads to increasing hardship in low-income and frontline communities. The report recommends a “real zero” approach that aims to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
Shifting climate finance flows: At an International Development Finance Club (IDFC) side event, speakers from IDFC and the Climate Policy Initiative explained that while global climate finance flows have reached a record high of almost $1.3 trillion, funding still lags behind the $9 trillion required by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F). Redirecting fossil fuel subsidies, increasing funding for adaptation projects, and lending with lower interest rates are some of the ways to improve and increase climate financing. The IDFC Green Finance Mapping Report 2023 dives deeper into the current state of climate finance.
The air pollution problem: America Is All In launched its report, All-In Climate Action for Improved U.S. Air Quality & Health Benefits. According to Ryna Cui, one of the report’s authors, an “all of society” climate action approach, compared to no climate action, could lead to 63,600 fewer premature deaths from 2024 to 2035.
Local Climate Action Summit: The two-day Local Climate Action Summit concluded on Saturday. The sessions covered a wide range of topics from adaptation and climate finance to multi-level governance and methane. COP28 delegates from more than 60 countries participated in the proceedings, including more than 250 mayors and governors. Mayors from 25 U.S. states and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham represented the U.S. over the course of the summit. As part of the event, the COP28 Presidency kicked off the Coalition for High Ambition Multi-Level Partnerships (CHAMP). The initiative is designed to involve state and local governments in the development of the next round of NDCs. At the time of the launch, 63 countries had endorsed CHAMP. Bloomberg Philanthropies also put out a report as a part of the summit, Paris to Dubai: Local Climate Leadership in Action.
Multilateral development banks to the rescue?: With more than half of the world’s population and accounting for more than two-thirds of global energy consumption, urban centers are at the center of climate action. However, according to a report by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA), cities only receive about $384 billion in climate finance per year, compared to a global need of at least $4.5 trillion. The CCFLA-Climate Policy Initiative has laid out a reform agenda to harness the potential of multilateral development banks to contribute billions more. Priorities include adapting business operation models to meet city needs, mobilizing more private-sector capital, and enhancing capacity-building.
Early warning systems: At its event, the Adaptation Fund, established under the Kyoto Protocol, showcased its new report, Strengthening Resilience Through Disaster Risk Reduction and Early Warning System Interventions. The report shares findings from seven disaster risk reduction and early warning system projects financed by the fund, and it makes recommendations for replicating and scaling up these projects elsewhere. To date, the Adaptation Fund has channeled $1.1 billion into more than 160 direct-access disaster reduction projects and established more than 500 early warning systems.
Walking works: A side event hosted by the European Cyclists’ Foundation, Fundación Despacio, and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy highlighted the Partnership for Active Travel and Health (PATH)’s new report, National Policies for Walking and Cycling in all 197 UNFCCC countries. Panelists noted that enabling walking and cycling through policy is a viable, cost-effective, and easily implementable climate solution that can help reduce transportation emissions by up to 50%. The report offers a template NDC with 20 recommended actions that governments can undertake.
Remember the ladies… in your climate commitments: An event organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and others focused on the importance of integrating gender equality into NDCs. The panel discussion was largely informed by a recent UNFPA report, Taking Stock: Sexual and Reproductive and Health and Rights in Climate Commitments. Yolanda Awel Deng Juach, the minister of health from South Sudan, highlighted that her nation is dedicated to a holistic health approach to protecting women from climate-related threats.
True cost of food: At a side event on the topic of transforming agrifood systems, hosted by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu noted that the world’s industrial agricultural food systems impose at least $10 trillion in hidden health, environmental, and societal costs each year. Dongyu cited FAO’s recent report, The State of Food and Agriculture 2023, reiterating the importance of food and agriculture solutions as climate, poverty, biodiversity, and health solutions, too.
COP28 Presidency on Finance Day: Officials from the Presidency were joined by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Co-Chair of the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance Lord Nicholas Stern at a press conference to talk about the critical role of climate finance in the global push to achieve climate commitments. Stern gave an overview of the report, A Climate Finance Framework: Decisive Action to Deliver on the Paris Agreement, which concluded that accomplishing the 2030 climate targets will require a total investment of approximately $2.4 trillion per year directed to emerging markets and developing countries other than China.
Please mind the gap: The 2023 Production Gap Report reveals that despite a projected decrease in demand and pledges from governments to reduce production, current policies and rates of fossil fuel production put governments on track to produce 110% more fossil fuels in 2030 than the maximum limit required to prevent further warming of 1.5°C (2.7°F). Anisha Nazareth, one of the report authors, discussed these findings, as well as pathways for governments to close the “production gap,” at a press conference hosted by the nonprofit Climate Emergency Forum.
Finance to reduce methane emissions: The Climate Policy Initiative, a nonprofit research group, published its second analysis of financial flows specifically directed to methane abatement. They found that there is currently about $13.7 billion in methane abatement finance available but that at least $40 billion is needed. The analysis includes a comprehensive look at the wastewater and agriculture sectors, as well as information on the oil and gas sector, though the data was insufficient for a comprehensive analysis.
States lead the way: The U.S. Climate Alliance’s new report, All Hands on Deck: Securing America’s Net-Zero Future with State-Led, High-Impact Action, finds that its 25 member states and territories—which represent more than half of the U.S. economy—succeeded in reducing their collective greenhouse gas emissions by 18% between 2005 and 2021, and are on track to cut emissions further to 26% below 2005 levels by 2025.
IPCC’s seventh assessment cycle is underway: The IPCC held a side event highlighting key findings from its Sixth Assessment Report, completed in March 2023, and sharing the outlook for the seventh assessment cycle, which is already underway. IPCC Chair Jim Skea identified three key themes for the current cycle: policy relevance and consistent engagement with the UNFCCC; enhanced collaboration between the three IPCC working groups, and a holistic approach to interconnected crises like biodiversity and pollution; and inclusivity, with an emphasis on gender balance, input from younger scientists, and higher country representation.
Mangrove breakthrough update: At a Nature Conservancy event, the Global Mangrove Alliance and the U.N. Climate Change High Level-Champions launched the Mangrove Breakthrough Financial Roadmap. The roadmap lays out how tools like microfinance, insurance, blended finance funds, and accelerators can help support mangrove protection and restoration.
State climate goals in action: At an event hosted by America Is All In and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) on the impacts of state climate action, EDF showcased the conclusions of its report, Turning Climate Commitments into Results: Evaluating Updated 2023 Projections vs. State Climate Targets. The report found that if U.S. states implemented the emissions goals they have currently set, the U.S. would be almost 50% closer to meeting its Paris Agreement goal of achieving emission reductions of at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Keep cool without warming the planet: The U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) held an event to announce the launch of the Global Cooling Pledge, in tandem with the release of its Global Cooling Watch report, Keeping It Chill: How to Meet Cooling Demands While Cutting Emissions. The report explores pathways to reducing emissions from cooling while also supporting the sectoral growth needed to meet increasing demand in the face of rising temperatures. The report’s recommendations fall under three key themes: passive cooling measures like insulation or reflective surfaces, energy efficiency for cooling equipment, and reductions in the use of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants (in accordance with international commitments under the Kigali Amendment). The UNEP’s Cool Coalition joined forces with the U.A.E. to create the cooling pledge, which is backed by over 60 countries, including the U.S.
Fossil fuel interests at COP28: Climate Action Network - International (CAN) highlighted two updates related to fossil fuels at a press conference today. An expert from Greenpeace International shared a new report estimating the number of deaths expected to occur as a result of one year of emissions generated by fossil fuel companies. The study concluded that the 2.7 billion metric tons of CO2 emissions produced by nine major European oil and gas companies—Shell, TotalEnergies, BP, Equinor, Eni, Repsol, OMV, Orlen, and Wintershall Dea—in 2022 could result in at least 360,000 premature deaths by the end of the century. The Kick Big Polluters Out coalition reported during the press conference that at least 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists have accreditation to attend COP28.
Building a more hopeful future: The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) held a press conference run by Chief Products Officer Sarah Zaleski. Zaleski opened the event by commending the Buildings Breakthrough initiative launched by France, Morocco, and the U.N. Environment Programme. The new initiative aims to achieve near-zero emissions and enhance resilience for the building sector by 2030. She also touted a new USGBC report, State of Decarbonization: Progress in U.S. Commercial Buildings 2023, which identifies high-impact opportunities to decarbonize the commercial real estate sector.
Territorial solutions to climate change: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) held a session at the Japan Pavilion for a panel discussion on place-based climate action and the launch of OECD’s report, A Territorial Approach to Climate Action and Resilience. This report illustrates the variability of mitigation and adaptation solutions across geographies and presents a framework for urban, rural, and regional climate policies. Place-based policy solutions to climate change can offer many advantages, including the potential for more ambitious targets than those at the national level, as well as the opportunity to better integrate factors of wellbeing into climate action.
Green technology book launched: At a side event on mitigation and land restoration technologies, Peter Oksen of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) launched WIPO’s 2023 Green Technology Book, which details the state of play and feasibility for hundreds of technologies and solutions for climate change. As Oksen explained, given the global nature of climate change, the world needs thousands of game-changing solutions, not just one or two.
Health and the climate crisis: At an event hosted by the U.S. Center, panelists from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized that solutions to the health consequences of climate change are most effective at the local level. HHS Assistant Secretary Rachel Levine announced the HHS Climate Change and Health Equity Strategy Supplement to the 2021 HHS Climate Action Plan, which describes the climate-related health risks for the most vulnerable U.S. communities. More than 130 organizations representing over 900 U.S. hospitals have signed on to the White House-HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge.
Setting sail for decarbonized transportation: A panel discussion held at the U.S. Center showcased the country’s commitment to global maritime decarbonization with a focus on domestic ports. Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Policy Carlos Monje announced a preview of the U.S. Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan, to be released in 2024. The action plan will supplement the interagency U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization. Panelists discussed four key aspects of port emission reductions: finance and investment, workforce development, community engagement, and supply chains. The Ocean Pavilion dialogue on the topic of shipping also emphasized strategies to help ships decarbonize, such as leveraging hydrogen fuel and ensuring ships are retrofit-ready as decarbonization technology continues to evolve.
Key support for LDCs: The Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG), an entity created by the UNFCCC negotiating process more than 20 years ago, produces resources and provides technical assistance to support the least developed countries' (LDCs’) climate work. The group just produced the report, Mapping of Available Sources of Finance for Climate Change Adaptation for the Least Developed Countries, which catalogs funding opportunities available to LDCs by funding recipient type, type of need, and project size. The LEG also does substantial work to support LDCs write and implement their national adaptation plans.
Roadmap for ZEVs: The Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council’s Global Zero Emission Vehicles Transition Roadmap was launched by Graham Stuart, U.K. minister of state for energy security and net zero, at a side event on the vehicle transition to an emissions-free future. The roadmap outlines actions the council and its partners will take to “help make ZEVs the most affordable, accessible, and attractive option in all regions by 2030.”
Top-Rated Climate Nonprofit – 4-Star Charity