2023 Poised to Be Hottest Year on Record, UN Secretary-General Sounds Alarm on Global Boiling
The year 2023 is on track to be the hottest ever recorded, prompting the UN Secretary-General to declare an end to global warming and the onset of global boiling. This urgent proclamation comes at a time when the effects of the climate crisis are becoming increasingly severe, particularly in Africa, where drought in the Horn of Africa has caused widespread death and suffering despite the continent being least responsible for the crisis.
Even the most polluting nations are not immune to the impact of climate change, as recent floods in New York and Dubai serve as stark reminders. With COP28 set to begin on November 30, the question becomes whether this summit will provide an unprecedented response to the global climate crisis.
A recent report titled “Africa’s Agenda for COP28” calls for a robust response at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The report highlights six key areas that need to be addressed:
1. Loss and Damage Fund: Urges the finalization of this fund to provide support for vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted climate-induced disasters.
2. Just Transition Work Programme: Calls for a program that supports African and other developing nations in transitioning to low-carbon economies while addressing the economic and social dimensions of climate action to ensure inclusivity.
3. Global Goal on Adaptation: Demands a clear definition of the Global Goal on Adaptation and a call for doubled adaptation finance, prioritizing low-risk concessional loans and grants.
4. Climate Finance Commitments: Insists on clear commitments and tangible progress in climate finance negotiations, emphasizing grants over loans to meet the urgent needs of developing nations.
5. Global Stocktake Process: Calls for a thorough review of pre-2020 commitments, climate finance, and technology transfer within the framework of the Global Stocktake process to fortify collective efforts in achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
6. Mitigation towards 1.5 Celsius: Emphasizes the need for resolute global efforts to limit temperature rise with a focus on equity, responsibility, and concrete actions, particularly those grounded in renewable energy and equity principles.
Mohamed Adow, Founder and Executive Director of Power Shift Africa, underscored the need for African nations to unite their collective voice at COP28. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that rich countries deliver on their promise of climate finance to help Africans adapt to climate change and compensate the most vulnerable who have suffered losses and damages.
The urgency of addressing the climate crisis cannot be understated, and the upcoming COP28 presents an opportunity for countries to come together and take meaningful action to combat global warming and its devastating effects.