UAE Press: Why COP28 deal is about more than just climate change

Several times during his valedictory speech to climate delegates gathered at Expo City Dubai yesterday, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President, referred to the “North Star” – in this case, a commitment to keeping global warming below 1.5°C, commented a UAE daily, WAM reports.

"Many said this could not be done," Dr. Al Jaber said to applause. "But when I spoke to you at the very start of this COP, I promised a different sort of COP. A COP that brought everyone together, private and public sectors, civil society, NGOs and faith leaders and indigenous peoples.

“Everyone came together from day one, everyone united, everyone acted – and everyone delivered.”

“It is true that the ‘UAE consensus’ that emerged after two weeks of intense negotiations is something to value,” said The National in an editorial on Thursday.

For the first time in nearly three decades of UN climate talks, a commitment to reducing fossil fuel production and use has been agreed to. A commitment to make such fuels net zero by 2050 is a more ambitious target than some have set themselves to date, including China’s date of 2060 and India’s goal of 2070. Nations have also been called on to substantially reduce emissions, “including in particular methane emissions by 2030".

COP28 represents a victory for ambition, compromise and pragmatism. Those qualities will have to remain in abundance as the world figures out how to achieve these targets in the years to come.

“Of course, the scale of the task ahead is unprecedented. The problems posed by climate change require sweeping solutions across all sectors. What was being considered at COP28 is no less than a wholesale reimagination of how the worldwide economy operates,” added the daily.

Delegates were essentially talking about a root-and-branch reorganisation – on a global level – of how energy is produced and consumed. Now they have given themselves a timetable of just a few decades to achieve net-zero emissions in a way that that doesn’t shock countries or their economies.

“COP28 may be over but Dr. Al Jaber’s North Star remains a guiding principle – keeping global warming to below 1.5°C. The summit in Dubai was a significant and timely move in the right direction. With the right will in the right circumstances, all things are possible,” said the Abu Dhabi-based daily.