COP (28)

What we feel after COP 28

As the curtain falls on COP 28 in Dubai, UAE on 13 December 2023, our collective determination to combat climate change has grown fiercer. Yet, the absence of a decisive commitment to phase out fossil fuels is a stark disappointment, a pivotal battleground for our success in this critical endeavour.

In solidarity with YOUNGO (‘Youth + NGO’, the official children’s and young people’s constituency within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), we unequivocally call for a comprehensive, fair, and equitable termination of all fossil fuels and their associated subsidies, refusing to settle for anything less. Regrettably, COP 28 fell short in delivering the requisite and just funding essential for such a transformative phase-out, neglecting the urgent needs of Global South nations.

COP 28 achieved a commendable consensus among nations to preserve the 1.5C-degree target that by 2100, the world’s average surface temperature will have risen to no more than 1.5C warmer than pre-industrial levels. Every nation must now take the necessary measures to honour this commitment. Despite the fact that the language on National Determined Contributions (NDCs) was stronger than it had ever been, it remains imperative to underscore that the wording centres on a phasedown, not a complete phase-out. We need a phase-out in order to reach our 1.5C target. Nations agreed on moving away from fossil fuels and reaching zero emissions by 2050: however, this necessitates a profound transformation of the international financial system, demanding a serious shift in how we handle money.

In a world burdened with so many, so complex challenges and so uncertain a future for young people, the global youth empowerment organisation that is the YMCA stands in unwavering solidarity with young people globally. Our frustration, disheartenment, and disappointment deepen as powerful institutions, both within and beyond our governments, fall short of prioritising climate justice on a global scale.

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