Was COP28 more 'World Expo' than Climate Conference?

Read the full story on Japan 2 Earth - Was COP28 more 'World Expo' than Climate Conference?

COP28, the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, was held in late 2023. With near certainty that 2023 will have the highest temperatures in recorded history, interest in addressing the issue of global warming only continues to rise. 

Like a World Expo

COP28 had over 70,000 registered participants. When I first participated in the negotiation process nearly 15 years ago, COPs were mainly viewed as a forum for intergovernmental negotiations. I never imagined back then that COPs would come to involve such a diverse range of stakeholders.

The venue for COP28 was Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the site of the 2020 World Expo. In fact, the multitude of pavilions and exhibits was much like the World Expo. The sight of local elementary school students touring the exhibits was charming. And for the first time, there was dedicated exhibition space for startups, a significant achievement. Ten companies from Japan participated, attracting high interest. 

However, do we really need to hold an event on this scale every year? Gathering tens of thousands of people in a city in the desert to discuss the environment in air-conditioned venues felt quite surreal. I do not doubt others share my sentiment.

Continue reading the full story on Japan 2 Earth to read more about Takeuchi's views on COP28.

And find more great articles on the environment and the challenges of achieving the SDGs on our affiliated website Japan 2 Earth (J2E), sparking a transition to a sustainable future.

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(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Sumiko Takeuchi

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