COP28 has delivered the first ever global commitments on fossil fuels – The UAE Consensus : US Pioneer Global VC DIFCHQ Singapore Swiss-Riyadh Norway Our Mind

Everything you need to know in one place

Want to know more about The UAE Consensus? One easy-to-read document explains all the major developments from this enhanced, balanced and historic agreement.

Key Moments

  • COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber: “The world needed to find a new way. By following our North Star, we have found that path.”
  • Final UAE Consensus: an unprecedented reference to a just and orderly transition away from fossil fuels
  • A new specific target to triple renewables and double energy efficiency by 2030

The UAE Consensus 

At the end of the two week conference, the 198 Parties have agreed a landmark text – The UAE Consensus – that sets out an ambitious climate agenda to keep 1.5°C of warming within reach. An enhanced, balanced, and historic package to accelerate climate action.

 

A key aspect is the global agreement on a transition away from fossil fuels by 2050 – the first ever mention of fossil fuel commitments under the UN Climate Convention. It includes a new specific targets to triple renewable energy production and to double energy efficiency by 2030 and builds momentum towards a new architecture for climate finance.

We united. We acted. And we delivered.

COP28 sought to accelerate progress on issues which require urgent action to protect people living on the front lines of climate change. A number of those were for the first time, including poverty, health, water and food, as well as impacts of climate change on physical infrastructure, through the new loss and damage fund.

“We have taken crucial action that will help shape a better cleaner world with more equitable prosperity. We can truly say that we united, we acted and we truly delivered,”

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber – COP28 President

A paradigm shift

The UAE hosts shaped a themed Action Agenda, in parallel to the climate talks, involving and empowering everyone from business, civil society and youth to Indigenous Peoples, in an inclusive COP to leave no-one behind.

 

The scale of achievements delivered under the Action Agenda has been unprecedented for any COP – mobilizing $85 billion in funding and endorsement of 11 pledges and declarations – the Action Agenda alone has closed one-third of the emissions gap to 1.5C.

“I promised a different sort of COP. A COP that brought everyone together – private and public…civil society and faith leaders, youth and indigenous peoples. Everyone came together from day one.”Dr. Sultan Al Jaber – COP28 President

Outside the Global Stocktake

  • Loss and Damage Fund operationalized –with $792 million
    of early pledges
  • Adoption of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)
  • $85 billion funding mobilized
  • Breakthrough agreements on the energy transition
  • Institutionalization of Youth Climate Champion role
  • The most inclusive COP to-date

After the Consensus

In the words of Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber in his closing speech: “We are what we do, not what we say.”

 

The COP28 Presidency has been clear in its intention to ensure that the agreements made at COP28 are delivered and followed through to COP29 and COP30, with mechanisms to track progress against implementation.