What to Expect at COP28: A Breakdown of the UN Climate Summit

In early December, COP28, the annual international climate summit organized by the United Nations, will draw tens of thousands of individuals to Dubai.

As the urgency to prevent irreversible damage from fossil fuel pollution increases, global leaders, negotiators, climate advocates, and industry representatives are now focusing their discussions on the necessary adaptations to combat more severe heatwaves, stronger storms, and catastrophic sea level rise.

Despite the significant global consequences of the climate crisis, the yearly negotiations have been filled with controversy. Reaching a consensus on solutions has been challenging and has exposed the discrepancies between wealthy nations, responsible for the majority of the Earth's pollution, and underprivileged countries that have made limited contributions.

Here's an overview of the most crucial conference on climate change worldwide.

What is COP28?

Then-US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at a news conference at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 9, 2015.

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Over 30 years ago, a UN treaty was signed by more than 150 countries in an effort to control the concerning increase of pollution that contributes to global warming. Although the understanding of human-caused climate change was still developing at that time, scientists recognized its potential to profoundly impact our lives.

The inaugural "Conference of the Parties" (COP) for the treaty was held in Berlin in 1995, and since then, member states have been meeting on an almost annual basis to discuss climate change. In 2015, during COP21, the Paris Agreement was adopted by more than 190 countries, aiming to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, with a preference for achieving a target of 1.5 degrees.

Although the Paris Agreement was a significant milestone and positioned the world in accordance with the recommendations of scientists, it did not provide explicit guidelines on the methods countries should adopt to accomplish its objective. Subsequently, consecutive COPs have endeavored to augment the associated strategies of the Paris Agreement and further clarify the necessary societal transformations.

The controversy at COP28

The climate summit is held in a different location each year. While previous host countries have faced controversy, this year's choice, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has received significant backlash. As a major oil-producing nation, appointing a top fossil-fuel executive, Sultan Al Jaber, as the COP president is seen as a conflict of interest. In response to these concerns, the UAE has launched a comprehensive campaign to enhance its environmental reputation prior to the summit, as previously reported by CNN.

In February, Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, the United Arab Emirates' Minister of State, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and President of COP28, had the honor of shaking hands with Britain's King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.

Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

In May, more than 100 members of the US Congress and the European Parliament called for Al Jaber to step down, claiming that his role could undermine negotiations.

Some key players, including US climate envoy John Kerry, have commended Al Jaber's appointment. The COP28 team has dismissed criticism challenging the UAE's suitability as a host for the world's largest climate summit. They previously informed CNN that the UAE was the pioneering nation in the Middle East to establish emissions reduction targets for both 2030 and 2050.

The big names attending COP28

Heads of state and government leaders will give speeches at the beginning of the summit. Over 160 member countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and Japan, have officially stated they will be present.

Notably, King Charles III will be one of the most prominent participants, delivering a speech during the opening ceremony. Additionally, Pope Francis will make history as the first pontiff to attend a COP.

So far, the speaker list, which will be finalized on November 27, does not include US President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping, who are the leaders of the world's top polluting countries. In mid-November, Biden and Xi made a commitment to substantially increase the use of renewable energy instead of harmful fossil fuels and also agreed to restart a working group on climate cooperation.

An array of solar photovoltaic power generation in the desert in Hami city, Xinjiang province, China, on November 5, 2023.

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Leaders representing major oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia, and Iran, are set to participate in the event.

Amidst apprehensions that the Israel-Hamas conflict might divert attention from climate-related matters, particularly in the Middle East, it is noteworthy that representatives from both Israel and the Palestinian territories have been scheduled to deliver speeches during the initial week.

The climate talks in the UAE will witness the presence of numerous fossil fuel executives who have been invited to announce their fresh commitments to decarbonize. Additionally, a lineup of influential Wall Street financial leaders, including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, will attend the event, marking their presence after not being able to participate in last year's summit in Egypt.

COP28s global stocktake

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a resident of the Rocinha slum is photographed carrying water from a natural spring during a heatwave on November 17, 2023. The ongoing heatwave has been affecting various parts of Brazil for several days, with cities like Rio de Janeiro experiencing extremely high temperatures. Authorities report that the heat index reached a record-breaking 58.5°C (137.3 degrees Fahrenheit). The photo is credited to Tercio Teixeira/AFP/Getty Images.

Scientists are sounding the alarm as the world, for the first time, temporarily breaches the 2-degree warming threshold. During COP28, countries will enter the negotiation rooms equipped with an analysis revealing the extent to which they have veered off course from their climate objectives.

Melanie Robinson, the global climate program director for the World Resources Institute, stated that the content clearly indicates that the world is not making progress towards our global climate goals. She further added that it also presents an insightful and practical blueprint, along with a substantial body of evidence, on how we can accomplish our objectives. Therefore, it should serve as a wake-up call regarding the necessary actions, while also providing a roadmap to achieve them.

COP28s biggest issues

Continuing from COP27 in Egypt, there are several significant issues that will be at the forefront in Dubai. These include the crucial task of concluding a fund related to "loss and damage," as well as engaging in discussions on strategies to reduce the usage of fossil fuels, which contribute to the warming of our planet.

A significant argument among the political factions has revolved around the decision to either "phase out" or "phase down" fossil fuels. During COP27, several countries, such as China and Saudi Arabia, opposed an essential proposition to phase out all fossil fuels, including oil and gas, not solely limited to coal.

A major debate that will again take center stage at COP will be whether to "phase out" or "phase down" all fossil fuelsincluding oil and gasand not just coal.

This year, there will also be a particular emphasis on the loss and damage fund that was included in the agreement reached last year. The main objective of this fund is to facilitate the transfer of financial resources from the wealthiest nations, who bear the greatest responsibility for the climate crisis, to the most vulnerable and affected developing countries.

The aim is to establish the fund before 2024. To meet this deadline, a special committee convened in Abu Dhabi in early November and proposed that the World Bank assume temporary trusteeship for four years.

Nate Warszawski, a research associate with WRIs International Climate Action team, described the loss and damage fund as a complex and intricate matter. He stated, "I believe this could be a decisive factor in determining the success or failure of the COP."

CNNs Ivana Kottasová contributed to this report.