COP28 News Roundup | September 29– October 5, 2023
How will the UAE ensure free speech at COP28? Will Southeast Asia be the first to share power grids to fight climate change?
Each week, articles are selected from news sources around the world highlighting key dialogues, trends and issues among COP28 leaders, the gas and oil industry, carbon capture and storage technology, and climate policies.
UK Government Asks UAE for Assurances Over Free Speech at COP28 Summit
London, UK — The United Kingdom has called upon the UAE to safeguard freedom of speech during COP28, following the nation’s declination to amend human rights-related laws in the past.
In a statement issued on behalf of the UK to the UN Human Rights Council, the UK expressed its disappointment over the UAE’s refusal to guarantee fundamental human rights. The statement emphasized that freedom of expression is a universal human right, and encouraged the UAE to detail its plans to ensure these rights for citizens, residents, and visitors in the lead-up to and during COP28.
“The UK believes that freedom of expression is a universal human right,” the statement said. “We are therefore disappointed that the UAE has not accepted our recommendation to guarantee the rights to freedom of opinion, and freedom of expression and for peaceful assembly, in line with international human rights law.”
In August, the UAE stated that all COP28 attendees would be allowed to “assemble peacefully to have their voices heard in designated areas.” However, both Amnesty International and the UK government have sought further clarification on the specifics of these commitments.
It is important for COP28 attendees to understand what exactly the UAE authorities will permit, especially with regard to public demonstrations, which have been a customary feature of previous COP meetings. There were past instances where inadequate space was allocated for protests, often accompanied by crackdowns and arrests by security forces.
“At the previous COP meeting in Egypt last year, the space given over to protest was wholly inadequate, and the meeting was preceded by a crackdown and arrests by security forces,” said Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
The UAE’s decision not to ratify international human rights covenants ahead of the COP summit has raised concerns among human rights groups, further pointing out that over two dozen prisoners, among them academics and activists, remain incarcerated in UAE prisons.
AI Technology Empowers Climate Change Mitigation and Disaster Response in Africa
Algiers, Algeria — In response to the escalating climate-related crises in Africa, Google is intensifying its efforts to utilize artificial intelligence to combat climate change.
One significant initiative is the creation of the Flood Forecasting Hub, a platform driven by AI that provides critical flood predictions. In regions vulnerable to extreme weather events, this innovation has become an indispensable tool. The Flood Forecasting Hub stands out for its capability to offer accurate flood predictions up to seven days in advance, even in regions with limited historical data.
“By utilizing AI to process data and model potential flooding scenarios, this technology has already saved lives and helped communities prepare for and respond to disasters,” said Google Chief AI Scientist Yossi Matias.
Despite Africa’s small contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is one of the most hit by climate change impacts. In response, Google has made significant investments in the continent, nurturing local talent and supporting projects like the African Master of Machine Intelligence. These aim to empower local communities to utilize technology to address climate challenges in the future.
Climate Leaders Gather in Spain Before ‘Challenging’ COP28
Madrid, Spain —This year’s International Climate and Energy Conference, a summit uniting climate and energy ministers from across the globe, advanced conversation on increased climate multilateralism.
With Spain holding the rotating presidency of the EU Council, it is at the forefront of efforts to forge an international coalition committed to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Energy
Minister of Spain Teresa Ribera voiced her concerns about COP28 during the conference, predicting tough negotiations. She underscored the need for a united front.
“A global problem requires a global response,” Ribera said.
Also during the conference International Energy Agency (IEA) chief, Fatih Birol, outlined pivotal targets for COP28 success. He emphasized tripling global capital expenditure on renewables, doubling energy efficiency improvements, and securing an agreement to support clean energy financing in emerging economies as imperative climate solutions. Despite this progress, Birol noted that global consumption of coal, oil, and natural gas might still reach a peak before 2030 before experiencing a rapid decline.
Last year’s climate conference, COP27, established a historic fund to aid vulnerable nations in coping with climate-related disasters. However, an agreement on phasing out fossil fuels, a significant source of emissions, is still not in effect.
The EU is striving to unveil a comprehensive plan by mid-October, outlining a definitive transition away from fossil fuels. This strategy aims to exert pressure on nations that have been hesitant to commit to a fossil fuel phase-out.
Oil Industry to Act on Methane and Flaring, COP28 Chief Says
Abu Dhabi, UAE — COP28 President al-Jaber, addressing the attendees of the ADIPEC Oil and Gas Exhibition, announced that more than 20 oil and gas producers have made a commitment to eradicate methane emissions and gas flaring by the end of the decade.
In a significant move toward environmental sustainability, a substantial portion of the global oil industry, representing both private and state sectors, have made this commitment while also setting ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The specific companies involved in this pledge were not disclosed.
“This industry can and must help drive the solutions,” Al Jaber said, countering the perception that the sector has been an obstacle to progress. He urged the industry to seize the opportunity to demonstrate its vital role in finding solutions to climate change.
Besides the drive to reduce emissions from oil and gas production, COP28’s key focuses include expediting the deployment of renewable energy and developing technologies to curb emissions from energy-intensive industries such as cement production.
ADNOC’s Oil and Gas Emissions to Increase by 40% by 2030, Analysis Finds
Abu Dhabi, UAE — Environmental watchdog Global Witness has reported that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is projected to increase its emissions from oil and gas products by more than 40% by 2030.
ADNOC produced approximately 957 million barrels of oil and 62 billion cubic meters of gas in the previous year. However, these numbers are anticipated to surge to 1.3 billion barrels and 88 billion cubic meters, respectively, by 2030.
According to Global Witness, carbon emissions from Adnoc’s oil and gas production will escalate from 487 million tons of CO2 this year to an estimated 684 million tonnes in 2030, constituting a just over 40% increase. This is considered a conservative estimate as it does not encompass other forms of hydrocarbons produced by ADNOC.
ADNOC has contested the findings, asserting that Global Witness misinterpreted the company’s production capacity.
“We recognise the climate imperative and welcome constructive dialogue in support of practical solutions,” an ADNOC spokesperson said.
Climate Change and the Shift to Cleaner Energy Push Southeast Asia to Finally Start Sharing Power
Jakarta, Indonesia — In a bid to combat climate change and transition to clean energy sources, Southeast Asian nations are reviving a 20-year-old plan to establish a shared power grid.
Last month, Malaysia and Indonesia took a significant step by signing an agreement to study potential locations for cross-border transmission lines. These transmission links have the potential to generate power roughly equivalent to what 33 nuclear power plants produce annually.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) encompasses 10 countries, ranging from Singapore to Vietnam. Among them, Malaysia and Indonesia’s recent agreement marks a significant milestone in regional cooperation for clean energy initiatives. More countries now looking at power sharing as a means to wean their economies off coal and other fossil fuels.
“We are in good place in ASEAN to have this kind of collaboration in terms of trading and we have reached a common understanding,” said Nadhilah Shani, an expert at the ASEAN Center for Energy.
As demand for electricity rises, governments are realizing that transitioning away from fossil fuels requires an interconnected grid. As Southeast Asia make headway in their collaborative effort towards clean energy trading, residents hope to see cleaner alternatives in the future.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 28th Conference of the Parties (UNFCCCC COP28) Conference will be held from November 30th — December 12th, 2023, in Expo City, Dubai.
This news trend summary is prepared and edited by Carolyn Neugarten, Intern and Editorial Assistant, FINN Partners. To suggest future articles and topics, please contact Carolyn at carolyn.neugarten@finnpartners.com. You can share and utilize these weekly summaries to engage and prepare for COP28.
