COP28: How can the talks bring greater equity to communities worldwide?

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, kicks off in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates today, with world leaders gathering to work together on solutions to tackle climate change. We asked Atlantic Fellows engaged in climate activism what they want from the talks to bring greater equity to the communities they serve.

Amanda Segnini, Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity

While the impacts of the climate crisis have worsened globally, the majority of the climate crisis impacts are unequally distributed, undermining the well-being of marginalized communities. To ensure a more successful approach to equity at COP28, I would like to see the voices of Indigenous peoples prioritized at the heart of the negotiations. These communities are often perceived as victims and have suffered from land disputes, displacement, evictions, land grabs, pollution, droughts, crop losses and forest fires. Yet they are also key actors in the fight against the climate crisis in their own territories and communities. It is important that world leaders listen to and take into account their values when making decisions about the future.  Indigenous peoples have historically been guardians of the forests and stewards of the land. However, the burden of responsibility should not fall on them; rich nations, private corporations and banks must be held accountable for the catastrophe.

Ari Gorring, Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity

Nature’s priceless, but putting a price on people’s efforts to conserve nature can help to protect it. Indigenous peoples and local communities steward 80% of the world’s biodiversity so flowing finance to community is critical to reaching our global nature positive goals. You can learn more about the pillars of activity to achieve global nature positive goals in our report, Leading for Nature.

Brian Kamanzi, Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity

I do not anticipate any outcomes which will see greater equity emerging from COP28. Having worked and engaged with trade unions from Asia, Africa and Latin America over the last year, I hope that their efforts to pivot away from bilateral commitments through Just Energy Transition partnerships towards a broad multinational negotiation between Global North and South nations. The Just Energy Transition partnerships on the table for Indonesia, Vietnam and South Africa are mired with poor transparency and very poor levels of social dialogue with civil society and trade union organization. 

The levels of funding - not loans - committed to the Loss and Damage Facility from the world's worst historic polluters is embarrassingly low. At COP28 I hope to see vulnerable nations band together to issue a clear demand to chart a new path for the fund. 

Dorah Marema, Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity

First, I would like a clear indication that negotiations around the work on the global stocktake  are progressing and all stakeholders are able to see where we are collectively as nations making progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is crucial that we do focus on reducing carbon emissions as we build climate resilience. Secondly, we need a clear agreement on how the Loss and Damage Fund will be operationalized, and how it will enable direct access to those who need it the most, mostly grassroots communities in the Global South, at the coalface of climate disasters with no safeguards for their livelihoods. Thirdly, formal recognition in the The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of the role that sub-national governments could play in the climate negotiations as they are closest to the people and where climate impacts are felt most.

Laís Fajersztajn, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health

I am happy that COP has finally put health at the center of climate discussions. I want to see leaders delivering strong action to tackle climate change now rather than promises. We must make clean energy happen. It is important to focus on building resilient systems for those more vulnerable. Although a lot of the responses need to happen at the local level, the global can inspire, give directions and finance the response. This month we had the eighth heat wave in Brazil. Air conditioning is not an option in many households and we sadly saw that affordable access to drinking water to keep hydrated is lacking too. This is climate change and we must commit to tackling it. In São Paulo, my city, most of the pollution comes from motor vehicles that use gasoline or diesel, major contributors to climate change. Some workers can spend four hours a day in traffic, going to and from work, breathing polluted air throughout this period. Air pollution is an effect of climate change that is responsible for premature deaths and a wide range of diseases, including those affecting the nervous system. Air pollution is not restricted to the urban environment. Wildfires are becoming more and more common, with an ongoing one in Brazil right now. There is no more time for waiting.

Monique Brown, Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity U.S. + Global

I have lived in New Orleans my entire life and have never experienced a summer like 2023; triple-digit temperatures with equally high humidity that lasted well into the night. This extreme heat impacted cities around the globe and can be attributed in large part to climate change. And while climate change affects us all, our most vulnerable communities are most at risk from the adverse health impacts of exposure to extreme heat. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures is associated with increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular, kidney and respiratory disorders, and excessive heat can increase adverse birth outcomes. Our lower-income neighborhoods lack the infrastructure to battle heat, with lack of air conditioning and with low tree canopy and mass concrete landscaping contributing to urban heat island effect.

COP28 will bring together climate leaders from around the world to discuss a host of issues that are relevant to those who can afford to attend the meeting in Dubai. To the frontline communities that I serve, what is important is being prepared to face another summer like the last or possibly even worse. Preparation will require funding and given that most of the major funders in the world will be in Dubai this week, an equitable solution to addressing extreme heat exposure is immediate changes to infrastructure. We require funding to remove large concrete areas and plant more grass and trees and install more water gardens/play fountains in our lower-income communities as opposed to just in our tourist destinations. Let’s discuss funding to create shaded playgrounds at our schools so our kids don’t have to miss a week of recess because it's too hot to play outside. Long-term solutions to climate change deserve a conversation and there is a need for big-picture thinking. Summer 2024 will be upon us soon.

Renard Siew, Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in Southeast Asia

One of the outcomes I am hoping to see from COP28 is stronger commitments and accountability on climate financing. We are already witnessing some of the worst impacts on vulnerable communities: people losing their lives, homes, sources of income and cultures. Yet, these communities are not getting enough support and proportionate financing to rebuild their livelihoods, increase their resilience and adapt to these extreme challenges. We need to hold those in power to account!