On November 30th, Seawards will be at COP28, a summit where representatives from nearly 200 countries will meet to coordinate global climate action for the coming year. Water is an major issue. In view of the current urgency, strong political decisions and firm commitments are more than ever expected.
What is COP28?
COP28 is the 28th edition of the Conference of the Parties, where member countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change gather to set global climate objectives and discuss measures to be taken in the fight against climate disruption. The COPs have been held in a different city every year since 1995. This year, COP28 will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
COP28 and the issues at stake
Every year, it is expected that significant steps will be taken to strengthen our strategy to combat global warming. This was particularly notable in 2015 with the conclusion of the Paris Agreement. COP28 aims to bring together at least 80,000 participants, a record according to the event’s presidency. However, its president, Sultan Al Jaber, is not unanimously popular. As CEO of Abu Dhabi’s national oil company, he is drawing criticism from environmentalists, who are urging their leaders to move away from fossil fuels.
After a year that concludes as the hottest ever recorded on Earth, COP28 represents a crucial opportunity to discuss these events and explore solutions to the challenges of climate change.
Progress towards the Paris objectives will be the focus of attention, with the preparation of a Global Assessment of measures taken since the Paris Agreement based on IPCC reports, but COP28 will also concentrate on several objectives: ensuring equitable access to financing for climate initiatives to reinforce solidarity between countries, and reflecting on the future of fossil fuels with the increase in renewable energies, improved energy efficiency and hydrogen production.
Thematic days will also be organized on issues such as health, finance, water, food and nature.
Focus on water
Water issues will be at the heart of the COP28 agenda. The sustainable management of water resources is becoming increasingly critical as the impacts of global warming intensify. COP28 therefore represents an invaluable opportunity to formulate concrete strategies for preserving access to water, building resilience in the face of climate challenges, and working collectively towards a more sustainable future.
Seawards is actively committed to addressing the issues of access to water and the sustainable management of water resources. Its innovative desalination technology offers an agile and economical solution with a light footprint. In these times of climate emergency, strong political decisions and firm commitments are more necessary than ever, and Seawards’ participation in COP28 testifies to its willingness to contribute proactively to these crucial discussions to build a future where water is managed responsibly and sustainably.
Reflections based on an article written by Justine Dumont, Greenly.