December 18, 2023
COP28, the international climate change conference, wrapped up last week in Dubai. It was the largest COP to date, with total attendees approaching 100,000 – including more than 150 heads of state. At a time when we need less talk and more action on the climate file, the key question is whether these attendees were able to build the relationships and strike the deals necessary to accelerate our transition to net zero.
The conference was characterized by lots of firsts:
These firsts are about collective efforts to “expand the tent” and mobilize all sectors in new ways towards achieving the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
For the second year in a row, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) engaged GLOBE Series and Delphi as the Event Management Team to support the Canada Pavilion program at COP28. In that role, we were fortunate to have a front-row seat to many of Canada’s notable announcements during the conference. These included:
Another area where Canadians really showed up was in advocating for meaningful spaces for Indigenous participation. The value and power of Indigenous knowledge and partnerships at COP was an important theme throughout the negotiations, and Canada’s leadership in centring and having Indigenous voices at the table was recognized by Indigenous leadership at the closing ceremony of Canada’s pavilion.
Let’s dig a little further into the progress that was made in some key areas relevant for Canadians.
Global Stocktake
A top priority in Dubai was the first-ever Global Stocktake (GST), which was a collective check-in on progress against climate-action goals. The short version: considerable work needs to be done. Slightly longer version: that work needs to be done with more consideration for how climate, sustainable development, and poverty reduction are intertwined, and how incorporating climate resilience into systems transformations is essential for success. The need for a wide range of stakeholders to be engaged in climate action and finance was also emphasized.
Highlights from the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mitigation component of the GST include:
In terms of Canada’s mitigation progress, a recent assessment from the Canadian Climate Institute (CCI) finds that we are on track to achieve 85-90% of our 2030 GHG target. While this is promising, the discussions around the ambition gap at COP28 really drove home that we are at least 10-15% below a target that isn’t nearly as ambitious as it needs to be. But how do we do more and push harder to make the transition and capitalize on economic opportunities in the context of political uncertainty at the federal level, backlash against carbon pricing, and moratoriums on new renewable energy generation?
The answer lies in the GST’s call for all segments of our society and economy to be engaged, including “civil society, the private sector, financial institutions, cities and other subnational authorities, local communities and Indigenous Peoples”. We need to pull all the levers we can to ensure our long-term climate plans can withstand short-term setbacks in any one area.
Health
COP28 included the first-ever health-focused thematic day and health climate ministerial, resulting in the Declaration on Climate and Health, signed by 143 countries. Canadians need no reminder of the potential health impacts of climate change following the unprecedented and extended wildfire season this year – and this in a country that is much better off than most when it comes to availability of health care and its resilience in the face of climate impacts.
Some key outcomes from COP28 in this area included collaborating to:
In addition to the health system’s ability to respond to the challenges of climate change, the system’s contribution to the crisis was also on the agenda. This is especially important in the Canadian context because, as the Canadian Medical Association has identified, the health sector is responsible for 4.6% of our emissions (more than shipping or aviation) yet is currently missing from our NDC and our Emission Reduction Plan. There is significant potential to mobilize the sector to support emission reduction efforts.
Food
There was also considerable excitement surrounding the first ever food-focused thematic day. 146 countries signed the Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action to tackle how food contributes to emissions and how climate impacts food production, with $3.1BN announced to help implement the declaration.
Canadians depend on our agri-food system not only to put food on our tables, but also for its enormous contribution to Canada’s economy, providing 1 in 9 Canadian jobs and ~7% of Canada’s GDP. It is imperative that we enhance the resilience of our agri-food system to climate impacts; leverage emission-reduction opportunities in the agri-food sector, such as the new Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food (CANZA); and work hard to address associated climate, biodiversity and other sustainability impacts.
So, does COP28 represent a step in the right direction? We think yes, but of course the proof is in the pudding. Are we moving fast enough? No, though the outcomes of COP28 point to what we need to do to pick up the pace. The next opportunity we’ll have to come together to advance key issues will be at GLOBE Forum, February 13-15, 2024 in Vancouver, where we’ll tackle themes of net zero, building resilient communities, restoring and protecting nature, and ensuring water security.
The above only scratches the surface of the key takeaways from COP28 – if you’re looking for a sector-based analysis of outcomes or want to explore these and other topics in greater detail, reach out to the Delphi team.
Melissa Harris is a Senior Director and Stephan Wehr is a Vice President at Delphi. Interested in more information on how your organization can reach its corporate sustainability, net-zero, and ESG goals? Contact Melissa at mharris@delphi.ca or Stephen at swehr@delphi.ca.
