Mass snow in Germany doesn’t change anything: globally, 2023 was the hottest year since records began. This is sobering news for the UN climate conference, which is entering its second and crucial week.
Alarming facts at the midpoint of the World Climate Conference: Globally, 2023 was the hottest year since records began, according to the EU climate change service Copernicus. It is practically impossible that December will change anything, Copernicus announced on Wednesday. At the UN meeting in Dubai (COP28), which began last week, Climate State Secretary Jennifer Morgan said that Germany was continuing to fight for an “ambitious overall package”. This also includes the gradual phase-out of coal, gas and oil, which is still highly controversial among the almost 200 countries.
According to Copernicus, global average temperatures were 1.46 degrees above the pre-industrial reference period from 1850 to 1900. So far, 2023 has been 0.13 degrees warmer than the first eleven months of the previous record year 2016. Morgan said that in order to stop global warming as decided in Paris in 2015 To keep below 1.5 degrees for a long time, global greenhouse gas emissions must fall quickly – by 43 percent by 2030.
Regarding the status of negotiations, Morgan said there was a “mixed picture” and that all ambitious options were still on the table. The sticking points such as the phase-out of fossil fuels would also be addressed at ministerial level after a day off from Friday. “A good result is possible, but it won’t be easy.” According to information from environmental associations, the oil state Saudi Arabia and India, which relies heavily on coal, are among those opposing an obligation to phase out all fossil fuels.
2,400 lobbyists for coal, oil and gas
Regarding the number of around 2,400 lobbyists for coal, oil and gas at COP28, Morgan said that this shows how “close” the world is to a decision to end fossil fuels.
Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate said no one should be distracted by glittering announcements at the conference with around 97,000 participants. In order to limit damage and losses, especially in poor countries, all new projects for the production of coal, gas and oil would have to be stopped. The success of COP28 can be seen in this, not in speeches on big stages. Climate activist Luisa Neubauer from Fridays for Future also once again called for the conference to formally decide on an exit from coal, gas and oil.
The UN meeting is scheduled to end on Tuesday. In recent years, climate conferences have always been extended.
It had previously been assumed that the year 2023 would set a record for average temperatures. In mid-November, the US climate agency NOAA said there was a probability of more than 99 percent that the year would be the warmest since 1850. However, none of the relevant institutions had made a complete commitment.
Further increase in temperatures
And the planet continues to heat up. Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) director Carlo Buontempo said: “The temperature will continue to rise – and with it the effects of heatwaves and droughts.”
Just on Tuesday, the Global Carbon Budget report showed that global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil and natural gas are continuing to rise. They are expected to reach a peak in 2023 at 36.8 billion tons per year. That is 1.1 percent more than in 2022 and 1.4 percent more than in the pre-Corona year 2019.
