COP 28: Navigating Sustainable Resilience and the Urgency for Transformation

Climate

Camila serves on the ARISE US and Global Boards and is a Global Disaster Resilience Specialist at SPIN Global, leading the International and Business & Industry practices. She focuses on fostering public-private partnerships, developing national and international strategies, and prioritizing technology for equitable Disaster Risk Reduction outcomes.

Overview:

 COP 28 marked a significant milestone in the global fight against climate change, bringing together nations, stakeholders, and advocates to address pressing environmental challenges. At the heart of the discussions were the intertwined concepts of sustainability and resilience, recognizing their role in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of a changing climate. In this blog I will highlight key themes and observations during my experience and interactions at COP 28 in Dubai.

Sustainability and Resilience:

 During COP 28, leaders explored the symbiotic relationship between sustainability and resilience. Delegates and experts emphasized that sustainable practices not only contribute to environmental conservation but also reinforce societies against the adverse effects of climate change. These discussions aimed to establish a robust framework that integrates sustainability into resilience-building strategies, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

The Need for Policies to Advance Resilience:

One of the key takeaways from COP 28 was the recognition of the crucial role policies play in advancing resilience. There were conversations about developing comprehensive policy frameworks encompassing climate adaptation, sustainable infrastructure, biodiversity conservation, climate-smart agriculture, and enhanced disaster preparedness. The emphasis was on crafting policies that are adaptive, inclusive, equitable, and capable of withstanding the unpredictable challenges of climate-related events. The conference served as a platform for fostering partnerships and alliances that transcend borders and sectors, underscoring the shared responsibility of addressing climate change.

 Empowering Communities:

 Recognizing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on indigenous, vulnerable, and historically marginalized communities, COP 28 underscored the importance of equity and inclusivity in climate action. Some delegates discussed the need to shift from traditional top-down approaches to inclusive planning, ensuring that affected communities actively participate in decision-making processes from the beginning.

 One experience that left a lasting impact on me was the one where I had the privilege to speak on a panel at the first-ever Faith Pavilion at COP alongside partners from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships and the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (IDIEM). Our session delved into the critical topic of land and land use perspectives among indigenous and historically marginalized communities, especially in the context of disasters. The mantra became, "planning with communities, not for them."

 Landmark Agreements at COP 28:

 A key moment at COP 28 was the collective commitment to fund assistance for those most affected by climate change, addressing loss and damage head-on. Additionally, nations agreed on a clear ambition to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, marking a significant step toward a sustainable and low-carbon future. Although the “Loss and Damage” fund raised roughly $700 million, this only represents a drop in the ocean compared to the estimated $580 billion in climate-related damages vulnerable nations will likely face by 2030. An example of how nations can turn decisions into reality, is to ensure they incorporate robust targets into their next round of National Determined Contributions (NDCs), due in 2025.

 Incrementalism vs. Urgency:

 While we saw milestone agreements at COP 28, there was a collective acknowledgment that the urgency of the climate crisis demands more than incremental steps. The final stages of the conference generated discussions on the need for transformative actions and giant leaps to meet the ambitious targets the international community identified. This experience and multiple discussions prompted a reflection on the balance between celebrating progress and the need to do more, faster.

Preparing for COP 29:

Overall, COP 28 served as a crucial chapter in the ongoing narrative of global climate action. The interconnected themes of sustainability, resilience, inclusivity, equity, and urgency will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of future COPs. As we look ahead to COP 29, it is crucial to reflect on the outcomes of COP 28 and identify areas for improvement. The momentum during the conference should represent more commitments and public-private partnerships to achieve them. A few considerations include, but are not limited to:

• Mobilizing private sector-led initiatives and investments to advance resilience targets and technological advancements (e.g., supporting the UNDRR Early Warnings for All initiative). 

• Developing robust disaster preparedness plans and education projects to improve the culture of preparedness.

•  Leading comprehensive national-level policies that deliberatively address climate-related targets with an equity lens.

 In the short term, COP 29 presents challenges and opportunities for nations to demonstrate increased determination, transparency, commitment, and collaboration to achieve a sustainable, resilient, and equitable future. I am cautiously optimistic that we will see nations turn pledges into actions and create mutually beneficial partnerships along the way to achieve them.