Ahead of COP28, Officials Urge Nations to Step Up Efforts to Address Climate Change
As the world prepares for the 28th edition of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, Scotland, officials are warning that nations are only making ‘baby steps’ in addressing the global climate crisis.
The UNFCCC, established in 1992, is an international treaty that sets out the framework for global action to address climate change. COP28 will be the first major global climate summit since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.
Speaking at a virtual press conference on Monday, the UNFCCC’s executive secretary, Patricia Espinosa, said that while progress had been made in the past five years, it was not enough.
“We must go further and faster to address the climate crisis, and we must do so in a way that is fair and responsible,” Espinosa said. “We are only taking baby steps when we need to be running.”
Espinosa pointed to the fact that global emissions are still rising, despite efforts to reduce them. She also noted that the world is still far from reaching the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
“Climate action is not enough,” Espinosa said. “We need to see countries make much more ambitious commitments to reduce emissions and help vulnerable communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.”
The UNFCCC is urging countries to come to COP28 with bolder commitments to reduce emissions and provide financial support for climate action. Espinosa said that the world must “move from words to action” if it is to address the climate crisis.
“We need to see countries make a real commitment to ambitious climate action,” she said. “We need to see countries invest in green energy, infrastructure and technology to reduce emissions and help build climate resilience.”
COP28 is seen as a critical moment for the world to come together and make the commitments needed to address the climate crisis. Espinosa said that the world will be “judged by our actions, not our words” when it comes to climate change.
“The world is watching, and the world expects us to act,” Espinosa said. “We must rise to the challenge and take bold action to tackle climate change.”
The UNFCCC is calling on governments, businesses, civil society and individuals to come together to make COP28 a success. Espinosa said that “we are all in this together” and that “we all have a role to play in addressing the climate crisis.”
“It is time to come together and take the bold action needed to tackle the climate crisis,” Espinosa said. “We must work together to ensure that COP28 is a success and that we take the steps needed to protect our planet and future generations.”
