Several IIASA researchers were among the 70,000 participants at COP28 in Dubai, a diverse gathering encompassing heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, youth, and non-state actors.
Their sessions at the conference covered a wide range of topics, addressing issues such as city transformation, air pollution, artificial intelligence, and carbon farming. As they actively engaged in discussions, their work underscored the importance of a holistic and collaborative approach to tackle the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. Read their impressions below.
© Hossein Hassani and Nadejda Komendantova
"Several critical insights emerged. The launch of the Social Intelligence Mining Tool marked a significant advancement in harnessing public sentiment for climate action, illustrating the power of data-driven approaches. Sessions like "Data-Driven Solutions: The Key Role of Data in Tracking Climate Change" emphasized the essential role of comprehensive data in crafting effective climate strategies. Meanwhile, "Academic Catalysts: Empowering the Energy Transition through University Innovation and Research" highlighted the indispensable role of academia in driving sustainable energy solutions. The conference also underlined the importance of multi-sector partnerships in localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially for climate action."
"Implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies is influenced by risk perceptions of stakeholders and laypeople. Social media are becoming one of the most powerful communication technologies nowadays. Therefore, it is crucial to understand discourses on climate change mitigation and adaptation in social media for successful policy implementation. Artificial Intelligence Social Mining Tool developed in frames of Cooperation and Transformative Governance Group at IIASA is helping to derive big data on discourses and understand their major messages and dynamics."
© Bas van Ruijven
"If you leave it to politicians and negotiators, they will keep coming back to political negotiations and tactics, even though they have a shared understanding of the urgency and gravity of the issue. If you want to make a difference, you’ll have to invest, build out renewable energy, and become energy efficient wherever possible."
© Leila Niamir
"COP28 was a remarkable experience for me. There were strong scientific discussions, diverse voices, and grassroots activities, particularly from underrepresented and vulnerable groups, alongside government negotiations. Maybe we should have more effective, collaborative, and hands-on discussions to take prompt action?
Our side event highlighted the pivotal role of cities in combating climate change. Climate change risks are exacerbated in cities, which are home to over half of the global population. Cities offer the best opportunity to improve equity and justice, enhance well-being for all, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability. Isn't it time to engage in discussion about the transformation of cities and the inclusion of local government representatives into the negotiating halls?
As we share only one planet, the responsibility falls on all of us to ensure the habitability of our only home for everyone."
"There has been strong action on the Loss and Damage fund, which has been operationalized now and can start in 2024, for which finance has been pledged by developed countries to the tune of $700 million. Much more will be necessary, but after 30 years of heated discussion on this item, the acceptance of this fund, which will support the most vulnerable affected by climatic events and processes, already in the opening plenary came as a welcome surprise.
However, quantified global targets on adaptation, as demanded particularly by countries from the global South, have not been agreed upon, which will make it difficult for developing countries to further engage with developed countries in negotiations around the so-called means of implementation, including finance, technology transfer and capacity-building."
"Win-win-win: We organised a side event to discuss carbon farming and trading as a promising opportunity for Central Asian countries to contribute to the global climate action, reinvigorate rural communities, and combat environmental degradation."
© Leila Niamir
"It was a major pleasant surprise particularly for those of us like me who expected little from this COP given the spectacular long list of difficult issues to address, and the unusual or rather bizarre circumstances: being hosted by a petrostate, with the CEO of one of the largest oil companies presiding, and with approximately 100,000 people attending making the event look more like a “climate expo” tourist attraction than a focused serious negotiation on one of the most existential threats to mankind.
In the end, there were major achievements that I did not expect: fossil fuels were mentioned for the first time ever and with a decision to “transition away’ that was acceptable to many; on the first day of the COP and after decades of negotiations, a major breakthrough decision was announced regarding “loss and damage” and with significant financial pledges; 118 countries committed to tripling renewable energy and doubling the growth of energy efficiency by 2030- and to include relevant targets in their future NDCs; 50 oil and gas companies pledges to reach near-zero-methane emissions by 2030, and submit a plan to meet those targets by 2025; food figured prominently in this COP for the first time ever and 130 countries signed a declaration to include emissions from agriculture and farming into their national plans to tackle climate change; and, after some difficult negotiations, there was agreement on the Global Goal on Adaptation, a unifying framework to drive political action and finance adaptation."