A sunken boat sits on cracked earth hundreds of metres from the shoreline of Lake Mead in Boulder City, Nevada, the US. AP
A sunken boat sits on cracked earth hundreds of metres from the shoreline of Lake Mead in Boulder City, Nevada, the US. AP
A sunken boat sits on cracked earth hundreds of metres from the shoreline of Lake Mead in Boulder City, Nevada, the US. AP
A sunken boat sits on cracked earth hundreds of metres from the shoreline of Lake Mead in Boulder City, Nevada, the US. AP

UN Climate Change report brings Cop28 global stocktake into focus


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

Past climate action has been insufficient and more needs to be done by governments to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, to avoid loss and damage, and to adapt to climate change, a UN report has found.

The report reflects the views of governments and their perspectives on the main elements that will help them make decisions at the Cop28 global stocktake.

The global stocktake is part of the Paris Agreement, and a key means to assess the world’s global response to the climate crisis and chart a better way forward.

The report is based on 24 joint submissions from 180 groups and 44 individual stakeholders.

While there are divergent views on the details of how to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, all parties agreed they need to take more action and support developing countries.

“The report is again telling us the world is off track," said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.

"Cop28 is the moment for all parties to come together and put actionable solutions on the table.

"We must be ready with real answers to tackle the challenges, eradicate 22 gigatons of emissions by 2030, strengthen global resilience and mobilise finance at the scale necessary to enable a just and equitable transition.

"Now is the time to unite, act and deliver a strong negotiated outcome on the global stocktake.”

Simon Stiell, executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, said: “This report puts the cards on the table – except this is not a game.

"We know that we, as the global community, are not on track towards achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and that there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future.

“This synthesis report is a blueprint of what the final outcome of the global stocktake could look like, based on parties’ own words.

"Nations should make full use of the inputs to build consensus for an ambitious outcome towards action in this critical decade."

Expo City Dubai as Cop28 venue - in pictures

  • The Rove Expo 2020 will be in the blue zone with access for accredited delegates during the global climate summit. Photo: Rove Hotels
    The Rove Expo 2020 will be in the blue zone with access for accredited delegates during the global climate summit. Photo: Rove Hotels
  • Alif - the Mobility Pavilion in Dubai will be open to the public during Cop28. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Alif - the Mobility Pavilion in Dubai will be open to the public during Cop28. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The Expo 2020 falcon-winged UAE pavilion will go by a different name and serve as a cultural venue during Cop28. Photo: Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Expo 2020 falcon-winged UAE pavilion will go by a different name and serve as a cultural venue during Cop28. Photo: Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Terra - the Sustainability pavilion, which is covered with hundreds of solar panels, will be open to the public for Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Terra - the Sustainability pavilion, which is covered with hundreds of solar panels, will be open to the public for Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Terra, Alif, Vision, Women’s and Stories of Nations pavilions and Latifa’s Playground will be shut from November 18-29 to incorporate changes for Cop28. EPA
    The Terra, Alif, Vision, Women’s and Stories of Nations pavilions and Latifa’s Playground will be shut from November 18-29 to incorporate changes for Cop28. EPA
  • The Expo 2020 metro station serves the Dubai Exhibition and Convention Centre. Cop28 organisers have asked visitors to use the Dubai Metro. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Expo 2020 metro station serves the Dubai Exhibition and Convention Centre. Cop28 organisers have asked visitors to use the Dubai Metro. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The central Al Wasl Plaza at Expo City Dubai will be in the Cop28 green zone and accessible to the public during the summit. EPA
    The central Al Wasl Plaza at Expo City Dubai will be in the Cop28 green zone and accessible to the public during the summit. EPA
  • Surreal, a popular Expo 2020 Dubai water feature, will be open to the public during Cop28. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Surreal, a popular Expo 2020 Dubai water feature, will be open to the public during Cop28. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Airport-style security gates will be installed for entry into the Cop28 summit's blue and green zones, much like the screening at the Expo 2020 site. Pawan Singh / The National
    Airport-style security gates will be installed for entry into the Cop28 summit's blue and green zones, much like the screening at the Expo 2020 site. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A night view of the Vision Pavilion that will be open to the public during Cop28. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    A night view of the Vision Pavilion that will be open to the public during Cop28. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The Garden in the Sky attraction will be shut from October and will not operate during Cop28. Pawan Singh / The National.
    The Garden in the Sky attraction will be shut from October and will not operate during Cop28. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • Arish, traditional architecture using dried palm leaves, will feature across the Cop28 site. Photo: Sandra Piesik
    Arish, traditional architecture using dried palm leaves, will feature across the Cop28 site. Photo: Sandra Piesik
  • As well as dried palm leaves, the age-old arish technique also uses fibre from the trunk and husk to construct homes and weave ropes. Photo: Sandra Piesik
    As well as dried palm leaves, the age-old arish technique also uses fibre from the trunk and husk to construct homes and weave ropes. Photo: Sandra Piesik
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Jewel of the Expo 2020

252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome

13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas

550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome

724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses

Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa

Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site

The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants

Al Wasl means connection in Arabic

World’s largest 360-degree projection surface

Updated: October 04, 2023, 11:02 PM