The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 15th December 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

COP28 — many a slippery slope ahead

Why in News?

Much rested on COP28 in Dubai, a milestone event slated to take up the first five-yearly global stocktake with respect to goals set under the Paris Agreement to combat the climate crisis.

World Climate Action Summit (WCAS)

• The WCAS, also known as the “high-level segment,” is part of COP-28 where world leaders or their representatives meet. 
• They are expected to make statements regarding their countries’ intent and contributions to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

India’s Climate Targets and Previous Commitments:

• During the 26th COP in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021, Prime Minister announced specific climate targets known as “Panchamrit.”
  • Achieve “net zero” or carbon neutrality by 2070.
  • Install at least 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil energy by 2030.
  • Cut carbon emissions by a billion tonnes.
  • Reduce the carbon-intensity of the economy by 45%.
  • Meet half of India’s energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030.

India’s Leadership in Climate Change:

• Climate change was a priority during India’s G20 Presidency, with commitments to triple installed renewable energy capacity sources by 2030.
• COP28 seen as an opportunity to build on these successes.

About UNFCCC:

The UNFCCC secretariat (UN Climate Change) is the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change.

Origin:

• The UNFCCC, signed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development also known as the Earth Summit, the Rio Summit, or the Rio Conference.
• The UNFCCC entered into force on March 21, 1994.
• The Convention has near universal membership (197 Parties). 
• Secretariat: Bonn, Germany.
• UNFCCC’s Institutional Arrangements:
• 
  
  • The Conference of the Parties (COP)
  • COP President and Bureau
  • Subsidiary Bodies (SBs)
  • The Secretariat

About COP:

• COP stands for Conference of the Parties, with “parties” referring to the 197 nations that agreed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• It is the apex decision-making body of UNFCCC.
• It reviews the national commitments and emission inventories submitted by Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the progress made in achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention

COP’s with Significant Outcomes

• 1995: COP1 (Berlin, Germany)
• 1997: COP 3 (Kyoto Protocol)
  • It legally binds developed countries to emission reduction targets.
• 2002: COP 8 (New Delhi, India) Delhi Declaration.
  • Focuses on the development needs of the poorest countries and the need for technology transfer for mitigating climate change.
• 2007: COP13 (Bali, Indonesia)
  • Parties agreed on the Bali Road Map and Bali action plan, which charted the way towards a post-2012 outcome. The Plan has five main categories: shared vision, mitigation, adaptation, technology and financing.
• 2010: COP 16 (Cancun)
  • Resulted in the Cancun Agreements, a comprehensive package by governments to assist developing nations in dealing with climate change.
  • The Green Climate Fund, the Technology Mechanism and the Cancun Adaptation Framework were established.
• 2011: COP 17 (Durban)
  • Governments commit to a new universal climate change agreement by 2015 for the period beyond 2020 (Resulted in the Paris Agreement of 2015).
• 2015: COP21 (Paris)
  • To keep global temperature well below 2.0C above pre-industrial times and endeavor them to limit them even more to 1.5C.
  • It requires rich nations to maintain USD 100bn a year funding pledge beyond the year 2020.
• 2016: COP22 (Marrakech)
  • To move forward on writing the rule book of the Paris Agreement.
  • Launched the Marrakech Partnership for Climate Action.
• 2017: COP23, Bonn (Germany)
  • Countries continued to negotiate the finer details of how the agreement will work from 2020 onwards.
  • First set of negotiations since the US, under the presidency of Donald Trump, announced its intention earlier this year to withdraw from the Paris deal.
  • It was the first COP to be hosted by a small-island developing state with Fiji taking up the presidency, even though it was being held in Bonn.
• 2018: COP 24, Katowice (Poland)
  • It finalized a “rulebook” to operationalise the 2015 Paris Agreement.
  • The rulebook covers climate financing facilities and the actions to be taken as per Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
• 2019: COP25, Madrid (Spain)
  • It was held in Madrid (Spain).
  • There were no concrete plans regarding the growing climatic urgency.