Arsht-Rock Resilience Center’s Post

As the world gets hotter, sustainable cooling is becoming indispensable. Without access to cooling, many people's lives are at risk. Earlier this week, the Global Cooling Pledge was launched by the COP28 Presidency with the support of UN Environment Programme and the Cool Coalition. The Pledge aims to make cooling solutions—ranging from air conditioners to deep freezers—more accessible and sustainable. This marks the first time the world has collectively focused on energy emissions from the cooling sector—an important step towards a cooler, healthier, and safer future. From reducing HFC refrigerants to developing national cooling action plans, countries now have the opportunity to reduce their cooling-related emissions. Learn more about the Global Cooling Pledge and what it means for #COP28 and the planet: https://bit.ly/3t2EXEy

📢 To extend my participation in #cop28 , I would like to share some news related to the energy sector and the #cooling pledge. ✔ The #COP28 Presidency is leading the initiative known as the Global #Cooling Pledge, set to be unveiled during #COP28. This voluntary commitment aims to enhance ambition and foster international collaboration by establishing shared goals for enhancing energy efficiency and adopting climate-friendly practices. Additionally, it seeks to expand access to #sustainable cooling for the most vulnerable populations. In this regard: 🧊Over 60 countries signed the Global Cooling Pledge to cut cooling-related CO2 emissions by at least 68% by 2050. 💧 39 countries commit to boosting the global market for hydrogen energy. 🍳 The Global eCooking Coalition is actively advancing electric cooking to boost a just transition to net zero. 💡New solutions were presented to finance the uptake of methane emission abatement technologies. 🏆 39 global changemakers were recognized for advancing solutions that accelerate the energy transition. #cop28uae #unfccc #climatechange #sustainability #cooling #renewableenergy ESCI-UPF UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF

The longer – the better? Learn from the history of the longest COP to date! #COP28 in Dubai is over. We’ll discuss its results in a talk between Dr. James Henderson and Tatiana Mitrova on February 1 – save the date! For now, instead of making yet another summary of it, which you can find here (https://lnkd.in/e-hVvzb2) or here (https://lnkd.in/gYtWt7Hn), we’d like to revisit a record-breaker of the past. COP25 took place in 2019 and was tumultuous even before it started. Initially, it was planned to be held in Brazil, but two months after winning the bid to host the conference in 2019, Brazil withdrew their offer due to the transition in new government and budget restrictions (https://lnkd.in/dNEnWegg). Chile was next on the list, but they cancelled the event due to political instability. Spain hosted the conference in an incredible logistical feat. #COP25 happened under significant pressure from climate activist movements like Fridays4Future and Extinction Rebellion. This, and the presence of highly popular activists like Greta Thunberg, highlighted the urgent need for climate action and increased ambitions (https://lnkd.in/dAggU6KD). Key negotiations, including Article 6's market and non-market mechanisms, common time frames, long-term finance, and transparency in the Paris Agreement were left unresolved, while future emission-reduction commitments by Parties, and climate finance for developing countries failed to meet the public expectations. The conference did make progress on the gender action plan, some finance-related issues (guidance to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF)), and completed the WIM review. The "Chile/Madrid Time for Action" decisions were adopted, implying a need for increased climate ambition, although not explicitly calling for it. Overall, COP25 concluded with mixed outcomes, notable progress in some areas but significant delays in others. The conference, running 44 hours overtime, saw a disconnect between scientific and public demands and what was achievable. The negotiations were scheduled to end on Friday but were closed only on Sunday - which made COP25 the longest to date. However, it was an important step towards the climate goals: the number of countries that submitted their new or updated NDCs almost doubled since 2019, according to the World Resources Institute. There’s still a long way to go to reach all climate goals, and a need for urgent and decisive action. Seems that the longer is not the better when it comes to climate action. #NEAH_edutainment #ClimateAction #ClimateGoals #ClimateFinancing #ClimateChange #ParisAgreement #ClimateActivists #ClimateNegotiations #SustainableFuture #longestCOP

The curtain falls on #COP28 – was it a pivotal moment or just a missed opportunity? 🤔 Let's break it down with the main highlights: 🌱 Beginning of the End for Fossil Fuels: The landmark agreement to shift from fossil fuels and triple renewables by 2030 is a monumental step, imperfect yet impactful. 🚫 Methane Emission Restrictions and Carbon Halt: Pledges to restrict methane emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by midcentury signal a commitment to confront climate challenges head-on. 🌐 Acknowledgment of social and environmental issues underscores the call for sustainable development globally. 💰 Loss and Damage Fund Reality Check: While the Loss and Damage Fund is established, wealthy countries' pledges fall short, with just over $700m committed – less than 0.2% of the estimated annual losses exceeding $400bn for developing countries. I believe all #Conference of the Parties (#COP) are a positive step forward. #COP28 made some progress, yet loopholes persist in transitioning off fossil fuels, and the non-binding deal prompts questions. #COP28 is a positive step, but urgency, concrete action, and adequate funding remain essential. What are your thoughts on these outcomes? 💬 More information on the pledge: https://lnkd.in/eWr_JpZP #ClimateAction #Sustainability #COP28Outcomes #UNFCCC #Dubai Image credits: Bloomberg.com. Activists march in protest on day nine of the conference.Photographer: Sean Gallup/Getty Images