COP28 Debrief: Where Do We Go From Here?

Jan 28

Written By Harvard Alumni for Climate & Environment SIG

On January 18th, members of the Harvard community gathered for an event co-hosted by Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment (HACE) and the Salata Institute with climate leaders to reflect on the major achievements and shortcomings of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) and what comes next.

Expert panelists included:

—Diksha Bijlani (HKS ‘20) IFI Reform Lead, Climate Finance Partnerships, COP28 Presidency;

—Robert Stowe (College ‘81) Co-Director, Harvard Program on Climate Agreements;

—Cynthia Yue (MPP Candidate) International human rights, climate action, and social equity leader and advocate; and

—Marianne Mensah - Moderator (HKS) Lecturer in Climate Change and Sustainability; Founder, Climate Innovation Education Lab.

The COP28 achievements discussed included new conversations regarding fossil fuel language and commitments to transition away from fossil fuels, calls to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030, and efforts to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. The panel emphasizes the significance of these achievements in the context of addressing climate change. COP28 also included the first-ever global stocktake, which is a report allowing countries and stakeholders to see where they're collectively making progress on the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Shortcomings and important next steps discussed included the need for the expansion of our power infrastructure around the world and to further advance adaptation financing, including gaps identified in the global stocktake and the goals of the Paris Agreement. Panelists also discussed that COP28 also did not sufficiently address the establishment of a loss and damage fund for those communities who need it most. The panelists called for more private sector work in matching public sector financing promises, and in scaling up necessary climate tech across the world. Finally, the panelists suggested more meaningful intergenerational engagements in climate change action.

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