The conclusion of the 28th United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai marked a pivotal moment with the establishment of the historic global climate pact known as the UAE Consensus. This groundbreaking agreement, achieved through intense negotiations among representatives from 198 countries, is designed to uphold the critical objective of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In a remarkable departure from three decades of climate talks, nations collectively committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Following intense overnight negotiations that extended until 4 am, COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber officially approved the central document, the global stocktake (GST). The atmosphere in the room was one of celebration, with delegates standing, applauding, and exchanging hugs.
The final text of the UAE Consensus reflects certain compromises, particularly regarding coal, to address concerns raised by countries like India and China. These nations opposed the singling out of coal in the initial GST draft text. Acknowledging the imperative to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius with minimal overshoot, the agreement outlines the need for substantial, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions — 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035 relative to 2019 levels. The UAE Consensus further encourages countries to submit comprehensive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the end of the following year, introduces specific targets for tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, and sets the stage for a new framework in climate finance.
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