How Cop28 Could Impact Individuals through Extreme Weather, Green Jobs, and Food Prices
Published on: December 5, 2023.
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Thousands Gather in Dubai for COP28 Climate Summit
Approximately 80,000 politicians, policymakers, and world leaders have convened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the COP28 climate summit. Over the course of the next two weeks, negotiators representing 199 parties will focus on finalizing agreements aimed at mitigating the rate of global warming. The summit will address various key themes, including climate finance, fossil fuels, and the inaugural ‘global stocktake’ to assess progress towards the Paris Agreement.
Climate Finance for Vulnerable Countries
One of the first groundbreaking agreements reached at COP28 is a pact dedicated to supporting the poorest and most vulnerable nations in addressing the impacts of climate change. Notably, the United Kingdom has pledged £60m to this fund, with additional contributions made by the United States, European Union, UAE, Germany, and Japan. It is essential to recognize that extreme weather events in far-flung corners of the world have significant implications for countries like the UK. Gareth Redmond-King from the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit highlights this connection, stating, “We import half of our food from overseas, and according to the Climate Change Committee, half of our food supply chains are in climate hotspots around the world. Climate impacts in other parts of the world hit food producers, which leads to shortages and price rises on the supermarket shelves back in the UK.” For instance, Kenya, a major tea exporter to the UK, has recently been grappling with extreme heat. Furthermore, the UK heavily relies on rice imports from India and Pakistan, the latter of which experienced devastating flooding last year. India also imposed restrictions on rice exports following extreme heat that negatively affected its farmers. By committing funds to climate finance, the UK government simultaneously assists vulnerable nations in coping with climate-related challenges and safeguards its own food supply chain.
Phasing Out Fossil Fuels
A focal point of COP28 is the discussion surrounding the phasing out or phasing down of fossil fuel usage. While the UK is already making strides towards phasing out fossil fuels, the decision reached at the summit will impact how other countries approach this transition. Gareth Redmond-King notes that the UK is unlikely to be significantly affected as it is already on track to reducing fossil fuel dependency, despite recent decisions to grant new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea. The key concern for UK residents centers around how the government manages the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, especially regarding employment opportunities. Jamie Peters, Director of Campaign Impact at Friends of the Earth, emphasizes the importance of proper planning and future opportunities, stating, “There’s potential for jobs and there’s also potential for job losses if you do it wrong.” Peters draws attention to the potential consequences of transitioning away from fossil fuels without proper preparation, pointing to the 2,000 jobs at risk during the closure of British Steel’s blast furnaces in Scunthorpe. The UK runs the risk of falling behind European countries and the US, which are implementing significant subsidy programs to foster the growth of the green industry. The conscientious management of this transition will determine whether the UK seizes the potential for long-term, sustainable employment or falls behind in the global race.
Inaugural Global Stocktake
COP28 marks the culmination of the first-ever global stocktake, which assesses countries’ progress in meeting their climate commitments. A recent report from the United Nations indicates that global carbon emissions are not aligning with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, the threshold at which the most severe impacts of climate change are mitigated. The UK is particularly affected by the results of this stocktake, as it is already experiencing the effects of global warming. Gareth Redmond-King argues, “I think there’s a bit of a misconception that Africa might get warmer, but actually the UK is getting climate impacts even more severe than scientists expected.”
