As the United Nations climate talks in Dubai wrapped, a familiar script unfolded—a narrative of grand promises and a chorus of commitments to combat the climate crisis. Yet, amidst the applause for pledges of transitioning away from fossil fuels and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, a glaring reality persists: the voices that should shape these decisions often find themselves sidelined.
The lead negotiator for small island nations lamented their absence from the room where critical decisions were made. For the first time fossil fuels were listed in agreement text as a climate harm, but much of the language was watered down to accommodate oil-producing nations and industry lobbyists. People in the audience noted that after a long night of negotiations about language, COP28 President Sultan al Jaber limited discussion interventions to three minutes and gaveled the meeting to a close before some developing country representatives could make it into the proceedings. While objections were voiced, the resulting agreement proceeded without their direct input. This raises a crucial question: do these high-profile gatherings truly enact substantive change?
A retrospective glance at previous climate summits reveals a stark history of unmet promises. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 aimed to curtail emissions by 41 high-emitting countries and the EU, yet subsequent actions fell short. Even as emissions surged, key players like the United States and China didn’t commit. Fast forward to the Paris Agreement, widely lauded as a landmark accord. Despite its standing ovation and commitment to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius, the implementation gap looms large. Emissions have risen, challenging the agreement’s efficacy. In prior meetings, such as COP26 where Greta Thunberg rose to prominence, agreements over coal phase out were never implemented and the COP27 loss and damage fund was not created until the current meeting, but the committed funds represent less than a percentage point of the actual amount needed to help developing nations confront the climate crisis.
Voluntary commitments, a hallmark of these conventions, present a paradox. While noble in intention, their lack of enforceability raises concerns about tangible outcomes. Financial pledges, such as the promise of $100 billion annually to developing countries for green technologies, fell short, drawing ire from the global South and environmental advocates. Moreover, recent assessments suggesting the possibility that 70% of these funds arrived in the form of loans, exacerbating the debt crisis, cast a shadow over their impact.
The power dynamics within these meetings also merit scrutiny. The exclusion of critical voices, particularly from vulnerable small island nations, underscores the imbalance in decision-making. Their absence from pivotal discussions raises doubts about the legitimacy of outcomes when those most affected are denied a seat at the table. A poignant statement by the “Women and Gender Constituency” at COP28 underscores this disparity. It called out the failure to address gender justice and equity, particularly in the Global Stocktake (GST), and emphasized the urgent need to dismantle systems that harm communities worldwide. “The GST, in taking a step forward, also brings us backwards and opens the door to dangerous distractions such as carbon capture and storage, nuclear, and other false solutions and loopholes in the form of ‘transition fuels’ and net-zero approaches.”
Others critiqued the meeting, but noted that it also left room for both hope and introspection. Ariam L. Torres-Cordero, a postdoctoral research scholar at Columbia (University) World Projects reflected, “the momentum generated at COP28 provides a platform for further dialogue, engagement, and, most importantly, action among nations, businesses, and individuals alike.” Torres-Cordero also noted that the tensions between human, political and economic interests put on display at the meeting created opportunities for evidence-based action, “more knowledge, support, policy, and action is needed to transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy and manage risks of and respond to loss and damage associated with climate change impacts.”
As we reflect on the ending of COP28 and look to the next meeting, the discrepancy between promises and actions requires scrutiny. The urgency of the climate crisis demands an overhaul. Any actions that emerge from this meeting and the debates to follow should prioritize inclusivity, actionable commitments, and enforceable measures. We are at a moment where the gap between rhetoric and reality has to be bridged.
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