The 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) will take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, at Expo City Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). COP28 comes at a pivotal moment for international climate action. The findings of the UN “Global Stocktake” on global action to address climate change, released in a Synthesis Report in September, reveal just how far the world is from achieving the Paris Agreement’s goals and emphasize that the window of opportunity is closing.
Recently returned from a visit to China, UAE’s Ahmed Al Jaber, COP 28 president-designate, commended China’s “remarkable leadership” in transitioning to cleaner energy sources, lauded China’s progress in renewable energy adoption and highlighted China’s role in expanding green growth through South-South cooperation. With COP28 on the horizon, Chinese official media have been keen to showcase Beijing’s green energy cooperation projects in and with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, including the Gulf petrostates. Green development is the focus of one of the three high-level forums at this month’s Third Belt and Road Forum, marking the tenth anniversary of the BRI. Meanwhile, the Gulf countries have been ramping up their climate efforts.
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