In 2023 We’ve Seen Climate Destruction in Real Time, Yet Rich Countries are Poised to Do Little at COP28

After recent historic floods and wildfires, the staggering toll of climate change is becoming increasingly evident. Yet despite these intensifying disasters, there is little hope for accountable action to tackle the climate crisis as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Cop28, approaches. Leaders of high-emitting countries, including the US, Canada, UK and now China, are particularly responsible for climate change, and must change course if we are to avoid the worst and address the disparity and unevenness evident in current climate policy.

Thankfully, via the Paris Agreement, many countries have pledged and released finances to support climate mitigation (preventing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and transitioning to renewable energy) and climate adaptation (actions needed to adapt to current and expected climate impacts and reduce their harm). There is now regular monitoring of the progress of these payments, checks on how commitments are being upheld and tracking of what outcomes are being achieved – and these are positive steps. However, high-emitting countries failed to reach the pledged target of giving $100bn a year to developing countries by 2020.