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Progress, Promises and Propaganda at COP 28 [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-12-03  

Greenhouse emissions continue rising as more nations aspire to provide citizens with the power an average G7 inhabitant consumes.

Al Gore is back with his friends at Climate TRACE to show us their improved tool for measuring and sourcing greenhouse gas emissions in the real world.

There has been progress towards reducing those emissions. Clean energy investments are increasing, though investments in renewables and disinvestment from fossil fuels still fall short of climate targets.

To keep progressing, we must talk. At this time, representatives from across the globe are gathered for the latest discussions at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28). Where else can you see a parade of state heads issuing relatively anodyne statements followed up by a vegetarian activist loving their veggies and railing on the evils of meat consumption to international press.

There are too many meetings for one part time blogger to sort through. And, much of the content is weighted with spin, nebulous promises and other national leveraging. Nevertheless, there are valuable meetings occurring. Here is an overview of a few.

Big news is establishment of a loss and damage fund to compensate developing countries that suffer much of the consequences of climate change following a long history of being exploited by developed nations and multinational corporations. The United States under the Biden administration also pledged another $3 billion to the existing Green Climate Fund – the main finance vehicle to help developing nations adapt to the climate crisis and cut fossil fuel pollution. Past promises remain to be met and pledges remain short of requirements. Plus, we need assurance that funds are not more debt traps. If done correctly for the benefit of affected nations, then these could be steps in the right direction taken after years of meetings and talks.

China stepped up to tout its progress. They lead the world in recent additions to clean energy investments.

China already leads the world in wind and solar and also claims to lead the world in renewable production.

However, the big dark blue sections of the bars in their included graph is labeled thermal, which is unclear and may include burning fuels to produce steam.

Gaps in funding and action are evident in presentations of less well off nations and indigenous communities. In one meeting on intersectional climate action, indigenous representatives highlighted the gaps between pledges and lack of funding for support of local and indigenous communities at the forefront of caring for land and impacts of climate change. Local and indigenous participation is vital for promoting necessary changes, protecting land rights, and defining policies. They can help us all by applying traditional knowledge of local weather and agriculture while promoting recognition and protection of Mother Earth. It will be helpful for food security, traditional medicine and proper application of innovative technologies. To do so, these communities need indigenous led funds to use in their own territories with their self determination respected. They need education and respect for culture and traditional knowledge. Respect comes with more equitable and collaborative financing for indigenous communities, along with inclusion of these communities in developing policies. The actions discussed by big finance are not proven solutions, while indigenous communities have been demonstrating local solutions for many generations. Finally, it was pointed out that COP28 participants can lean less on market solutions as outlined in Article 6.4 of the Paris agreement and more on Article 6.8 non-market solutions.

6.4. A mechanism to contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable development... shall aim:

a. To promote the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions while fostering sustainable development;

b. To incentivize and facilitate participation in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions by public and private entities authorized by a Party;

c. To contribute to the reduction of emission levels in the host Party, which will benefit from mitigation activities resulting in emission reductions that can also be used by another Party to fulfil its nationally determined contribution; and

d. To deliver an overall mitigation in global emissions. 6.8 8. Parties recognize the importance of integrated, holistic and balanced non-market approaches being available to Parties to assist in the implementation of their nationally determined contributions, in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, in a coordinated and effective manner, including through, inter alia, mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology transfer and capacity-building, as appropriate. These approaches shall aim

to: a. Promote mitigation and adaptation ambition;

b. Enhance public and private sector participation in the implementation of nationally determined contributions; and

c. Enable opportunities for coordination across instruments and relevant institutional arrangements.

It is up to actors such as ourselves to devise, promote and seek funding of solutions. COP28 participants continue to show funders that investments have been unjustly weighted towards unproven business and technology aspirations over long established, less consumptive approaches.

The final meeting highlighted here is the presentation by 350.org in which the costs, risks and hopes are summarized by 5 speakers. Joseph Sikulu of Pacific Climate Warriors called for equitable 100% renewable power after describing how islanders and others without requisite infrastructure overheat while more developed communities shelter in air conditioned homes. Catherine Abreu of Destination Zero gave us some real hope that long years of talking is finally leading to serious and prepared conversations about phasing out fossil fuels,

more debate on pace and scale of changes, and more issuing of multilateral statements. Negotiations are leading to tripling of renewable energy and doubling of efficiency commitments for 2030. If we can end fossil fuel consumption, then we can reduce greenhouse emissions by 72%. Andreas Sieber of 350.org followed up with estimates that we are reaching commitments of 11 Terra Watts of renewable power by 2030. He noted that this figure was ~3.5 TW in 2022, and that we have an increase of about 500 GW this year. So, we need to pick up the pace, and annual investments of 100 billion from private funds matched by 200 billion in public investment can make it happen. Finishing up was Zaki Mamdoo with Stop EACOP telling us how African nations continue to suffer under foreign energy investments. The EACOP pipeline project connecting Ugandan gas to Tanzanian coastal shipping for off-continent destinations perpetuates underdevelopment and damaging of African ecosystems and communities. It is far from unique, as gas projects in Mozambique, mining in Madagascar, S Africa, and Botswana, gas extraction in Senegal, and oil drilling in Nigeria all exploit African people and environments. The benefits of development projects to date have gone to multinational corporations and foreign consumers. What Africans call for is debt cancellation, historical justice, decentralized power with local control, and regulation of development that meets the needs of Africans, not profit driven investment. In short, a debt is owed to Africa, and they are here to collect.

Thanks for reading. This tldr diary barely touches COP28. Go watch presentations for yourself as you can.

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