In today’s difficult period in Israel, we know that the first task is to “turn away form evil and do good.” At the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held recently in Dubai, there was an attempt to outline “do good” activity, but the first task required, “turn away from evil,” with a decision to stop the use of fossil fuels, was not taken. The attempt to set the goal of 1.5 degrees as a goal to be achieved, while avoiding the decision to stop using fossil fuels, is a duality that cannot exist and is unacceptable
The parties adopted a decision on the first Global Stocktake (GST) within the framework of the Paris Agreement, which recognizes the need for a deep, rapid, and ongoing reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along a course that maintains the 1.5 degree target. The resolution seeks to encourage parties to present their next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) with ambitious and economic emission reduction targets, covering all types of greenhouse gases, sectors, and categories.
Inter alia, the resolution calls on the parties to contribute to global efforts on the following issues, in national determined fashion:
- Tripling of the renewable energy capacity and doubling of the annual rate of energy efficiency
- Gradual shutdown of a coal-fired power plants
- Transition from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly, and equitable manner, to reach net-zero by 2050
- Zero-emission and low-emission technologies
- A significant reduction of non-carbon dioxide emissions, including methane emissions in particular
- Reducing emissions from road transportation
- Elimination of ineffective subsidies for fossil fuels
This duality is especially painful for the Middle East countries (MENA). On the one hand, we are in the region on earth most vulnerable to climate change effects. On the other hand, we are among the leading countries in the world in the continued production and export of fossil fuels. Admittedly, many funding statements were announced, but apart from the fact that these are tiny amounts, without policy and regulation, it is not possible to reach the goals.
During the conference, other issues were discussed, including climate change adaptation goals, a new regime for registering and trading emissions, promoting climate technologies, and more. However, all these will not prevent the crisis, and we are wasting the window of opportunity, which has only a few years left (hopefully until 2030). So what is left for us to do? Mainly to increase preparedness for a crisis, take responsibility, and act.
In today’s difficult period in Israel, we know that the first task is to “turn away form evil and do good.” At the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held recently in Dubai, there was an attempt to outline “do good” activity, but the first task required, “turn away from evil,” with a decision to stop the use of fossil fuels, was not taken. The attempt to set the goal of 1.5 degrees as a goal to be achieved, while avoiding the decision to stop using fossil fuels, is a duality that cannot exist and is unacceptable
The parties adopted a decision on the first Global Stocktake (GST) within the framework of the Paris Agreement, which recognizes the need for a deep, rapid, and ongoing reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along a course that maintains the 1.5 degree target. The resolution seeks to encourage parties to present their next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) with ambitious and economic emission reduction targets, covering all types of greenhouse gases, sectors, and categories.
Inter alia, the resolution calls on the parties to contribute to global efforts on the following issues, in national determined fashion:
This duality is especially painful for the Middle East countries (MENA). On the one hand, we are in the region on earth most vulnerable to climate change effects. On the other hand, we are among the leading countries in the world in the continued production and export of fossil fuels. Admittedly, many funding statements were announced, but apart from the fact that these are tiny amounts, without policy and regulation, it is not possible to reach the goals.
During the conference, other issues were discussed, including climate change adaptation goals, a new regime for registering and trading emissions, promoting climate technologies, and more. However, all these will not prevent the crisis, and we are wasting the window of opportunity, which has only a few years left (hopefully until 2030). So what is left for us to do? Mainly to increase preparedness for a crisis, take responsibility, and act.