What Should We Expect With COP28 Coming To A Close? Nothing.
With all the news coming out of the recent COP28 conference, including the former Vice President of The United States, Al Gore stating, “COP28 is on the verge of complete failure”, I think we should be optimistically expecting nothing to be gained or lost at the close of the conference. The conference itself is the accomplishment.
Can we all admit that there are numerous obstacles to global cooperation on climate change, and the UN frameworks, while providing a platform for international dialogue and agreement, lack the enforcement power to compel countries to comply with their commitments. Despite these challenges, there are many reasons that motivate countries to still participate in climate negotiations and agreements even though they may not do anything:
Maintaining international image and reputation: Countries are concerned about their global image and reputation. Participating in climate negotiations and agreements, regardless of adherence, demonstrates a commitment to addressing the issue and can garner praise from the international community. This can be beneficial for diplomatic relations and trade opportunities.
Access to resources and technology: International climate agreements often include provisions for financing and technology transfer to support developing countries in their climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. By participating, countries gain access to resources and expertise that they might not otherwise have, promoting their own development goals.
Shaping the global agenda: Climate negotiations provide an opportunity for countries to influence the international climate agenda and promote their own interests. This can be particularly important for developing countries who want to ensure that their concerns are heard and their needs are addressed.
Protecting national interests: While some countries may not fully implement their commitments, their participation in agreements allows them to monitor the actions of other countries and hold them accountable. This can help protect their national interests and ensure that the burden of addressing climate change is shared equitably.
Building trust and cooperation: Participating in climate negotiations can foster dialogue and cooperation among countries, building trust and addressing other global challenges. This can be particularly important in a world with increasingly complex geopolitical issues.
International pressure and consequences: Although the UN frameworks lack strong enforcement mechanisms, there are still consequences for non-compliance. Countries that fail to meet their commitments may face criticism from the international community, potential trade sanctions, and ultimately, damage to their reputation and relationships with other nations.
With the above considered, we think there are sufficient enough reasons for us to remain optimistic. We must admit that global cooperation at the scale necessary to resolve the climate crisis is not easy to accomplish. The fact that nations convened for a meeting to come to agreements and allocate resources and technology is indeed its own accomplishment. Will there be a global concerted effort towards resolving the climate crisis? Probably not. This should not come as a surprise considering the state of the climate crisis itself. Let’s be realistic. The geopolitics is complicated.
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