On the eve of the global climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) says COP28 must show a clear agreement to leave fossil fuel dependency behind. 

Simon Stiell says governments must agree to triple renewable energy this decade, and double energy efficiency.

“Only renewable energy offers safe, affordable, secure energy, as well as far more jobs, stronger economic growth, less pollution and better health for people in every country,” he said.

Over 160 world leaders are attending this year’s climate conference, which comes as the climate crisis enters a new phase – and shows its full force, harming billions of people, and costing trillions. 

According to Simon Stiell, no country is immune to the climate crisis as everyone is now on the frontlines; “yet most governments are still taking baby steps, when bold strides are urgently needed”.

“So – on the eve of the COP28, the problem is clear: business-as-usual is breaking our planet. At the COP28 climate conference, leaders must get to work fixing it,” he said.

He expects governments to pick up from the Global Stocktake completed by UN Climate Change this year, by agreeing what bolder actions need to be taken and how to deliver them. 

“At COP28, governments must deliver on two time frames: a surge in climate action now, and a springboard for the next two crucial years, and beyond,” said Stiell.

Last year’s COP in Egypt delivered a historic Loss and Damage Fund, which is important to developing nations starved of climate justice and resilience for long.  

Simon Stiell expects COP28 to put real money on the table.

“COP28 in Dubai must show that finance is the great climate enabler. It needs to flow to developing countries in torrents, not trickles, to boost climate resilience right now.

“The reality is that without much more finance flowing to developing countries, renewables revolution will remain a mirage in the desert. COP28 must turn it into a reality,” he said.

With the climate crisis hitting every country and every economy, the Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change believes “climate action is a chance to unite around a common cause: survival, justice, prosperity”.

He says leaders leaving Dubai after the opening Summit, must have a clear message to their negotiators: “don’t come home without a deal that will make a real difference”.