Is COP28 really going far enough?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Right now, business leaders, climate scientists, journalists and other key stakeholders from across the United Nations are meeting in UAE as part of COP28, specifically to negotiate and agree action to tackle climate change.

An annual event, COP is a cornerstone occasion in the renewable energy industry’s diary; dictating goals & objectives for the coming year.

Currently in full swing, COP28 headlines have been dominating mainstream and industry news alike for several days - accompanied by a flurry of differing opinions and a number of misinterpretations.

However, a common theme seems to be the question: is COP28 really going far enough to support the global adoption of renewable energy, phase out fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions?

Is COP28 really going far enough?

Phasing out fossil fuels seems to be playing a major role in this year’s COP. Alongside this, the EU has already pledged as part of COP28 to lead the global initiative to triple renewable energy capacity, as well as double energy efficiency measures by 2030.

These are all much needed goals, objectives and ultimately promises from a UN focused on reducing the effects of climate change.

However, some industry leaders have suggested that certain aspects of the renewable energy industry, such as resource efficiency, are missing from COP28 talks.

MRW, for example, has reported that CIWM policy and external affairs director Lee Marshall is:

“disappointed that resource efficiency still has not made it on to the COP agenda in a meaningful way. This is particularly concerning given the vital role that sustainable resources and waste management will play in protecting our planet.”

What’s more, COO Collections and Specialist Services at Biffa - Maxine Mayhew - has just hit the headlines with a very valid opinion that waste management and its role in decarbonising the economy is simply not receiving the same focus and acknowledgement it needs within the wider COP28 conversation.

Alongside this is the notable absence of the USA at COP28 talks; especially as the U.S. was responsible for 14% of global carbon emissions in 2021.

Of course, any article on COP28 would not be complete without the honourable mention of the climate summit leader’s comment that there is “no science” that says phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to keep global warming under a critical threshold, a sentence that has absolutely dominated COP28 headlines the world over!

Although COP28 has technically only just begun and will continue for at least another week, the conference has certainly served to stir up many emotions, opinions and discussions surrounding the path to a greener global future - uniting 118 countries in an effort to triple renewable energy capacity within 7 short years.

What, however, will be especially interesting - especially here in the UK - will be public opinion on this initiative which, we know, often drives policy and adoption.