{"id":7812,"date":"2023-11-21T11:44:54","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T10:44:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/?p=7812"},"modified":"2023-12-13T10:03:08","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T09:03:08","slug":"cop28-dubai-lets-take-back-the-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/cop28-dubai-lets-take-back-the-power\/","title":{"rendered":"The Greens\/EFA at COP28 in Dubai: Let’s take back the power at global stocktake"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As the door to keep the 1.5\u00b0C target alive is dangerously closing and we are experiencing what is on track to be the hottest year on record, following the hottest summer ever recorded and a litany of natural disasters, COP28 is a key moment in our fight for a climate-neutral Europe and world<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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This COP is the first time the Paris Agreement\u2019s 5-year review, a global stocktake, is taking place<\/strong>, and the rate of climate change shows how this review process is already outdated. As we prepare for the last COP before the end of our mandate as Greens\/EFA, we need to push for ambitious objectives to get on track<\/strong>, with a strong yearly review process of progress, on tripling renewable energy, doubling energy efficiency and agreeing on concrete plans and measures to phase out all fossil fuels. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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As Green\/EFA MEPs, we will send a strong message that COP28 needs to be the COP that finally embraces the concept of climate justice<\/strong>. Justice means fulfilling the pledges that have been made, over and over again. Justice means that those that have contributed historically to emissions need to take more responsibility<\/strong>, because people least responsible for this crisis are bearing the worst costs. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Justice also means that COP28 should be a space where all citizens and civil society organisations enjoy equitable access and full and unrestricted participation<\/strong>. We know the United Arab Emirates has at many occasions disregarded human rights, including by targeting activists and repressing the human rights movement. We urge the UNFCCC to integrate  human rights criteria in its selection process for the future countries hosting COP. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Read the Greens\/EFA demands for the COP28 climate conference in Dubai\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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+++ Final Update 13.12.2023: Is this the end of the fossil fuel era? +++<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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A day after the planned end of the COP28, final conclusions have finally been adopted by the negotiating parties! The last two weeks were filled with discussions, consultation and dialogue to achieve conclusions that would be accepted by all.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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A day after the planned end of the COP28, final conclusions have finally been adopted by the negotiating parties! The last two weeks were filled with discussions, consultation and dialogue to achieve conclusions that would be accepted by all. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Our one guiding principle for this COP28 has been to do everything in our power to get on track with the 1.5 degree, calling for tripling renewables, doubling energy efficiency and especially a phasing out all fossil fuels. While the final text remains a compromise and therefore does not fully satisfy all our demands, this is a major step forward towards a world without fossil fuel, as it calls to \u201ctransition away from fossil fuels in energy systems\u201d and to \u201caccelerate action in this critical decade\u201d\u2019 recognising the need to act urgently. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As the Greens\/EFA group, we strongly welcome this outcome<\/a> and note with interest the determination of the EU and Member States in calling for a phase out of fossil fuels over the last two weeks. This now needs to be translated at home. As we understand the Commission will present options for the EU post-2030 climate targets on 6 February, we expect them to focus on ambitious pathways and targets to phase out all fossil fuels and reach climate-neutrality within Europe by 2040. This is what the world expects from us. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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On the rest of the conclusions, we now need concrete implementation plans so the promises don\u2019t stay just empty words. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finally, this is only a step towards the right direction. There is still a lot of work to be done. We will keep on working tirelessly to ensure that the fossil fuel industry does not capture our climate conferences. The UNFCCC published the list of COP28\u2019s participants for the first time, which made even clearer the influence of this industry and its lobbyists. An accountability framework mechanism is highly needed and our MEPs will keep on advocating for this, especially looking towards COP29 in Azerba\u00efjan. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The UNFCCC also needs to develop and implement human rights criteria to abide by for potential host countries. Civil society is a key actor in those discussions, bringing expertise, knowledge and lived experience from all across the world: they need to be empowered to keep on doing so. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Climate justice is at the core of our work. The EU, as an historical emitter, has a responsibility to act. COP28 has shown we know what needs to be done. It is now time for us to keep the pressure on and always push to go beyond the ambitions already set down in those conclusions. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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The core of the Dubai deal. Yes, it remains a compromise. But only referring to 1.5 degrees pathways; accelerating efforts this decade, net zero on fossil fuels in energy systems by 2050; tripling renewables, doubling efficiency. This is the breakthrough we needed. #COP28<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yP3LBfgmg7<\/a><\/p>— Bas Eickhout (@BasEickhout) December 13, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>