COP28 provides a crucial juncture for nations to reaffirm and beef up their commitments to combat climate change. The Paris Agreement, established during COP21, set the stage for collective efforts to limit global temperature rise. In COP28, countries have the chance to revisit and strengthen their climate targets, ensuring that they align with the latest scientific assessments and the ever-increasing urgency of the climate crisis.

The COP28 conference convenes from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The EESC is actively participating in the annual negotiations.

At COP28, the first Global Stocktake of the implementation of the Paris Agreement will conclude. Each stocktake is a two-year process, carried out every five years, to assess the world's collective progress towards achieving its climate goals. The first Global Stocktake is at the mid-point of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs, including Goal 13 (climate action). 

In a letter to parties sent in July 2023, the presidency announced that COP 28 will focus on four paradigm shifts:

• Fast-tracking the energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030;
• Transforming climate finance by delivering on old promises and setting the framework for a new deal on finance;
• Putting nature, people, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action; and
• Mobilising for the most inclusive COP ever.

The EESC will be part of the EU delegation and will count on the participation of  EESC President, Oliver Röpke, the six members of the Ad Hoc Group on COP, Peter Schmidt,  Isabel Caño Aguilar, Josep Puxeu Rocamora, Antje Sabine Gerstein,  Neža Repanšek  and Arnaud Schwartz plus the EESC youth delegate to the UNFCCC Diandra NÍ Bhuachalla. (ks)