COP28: adelphi experts and side events in Dubai

The COP28 climate conference in Dubai has been underway for a week. adelphi is participating in events with several experts and – together with 70 governments and 39 organisations – has signed a declaration on climate finance for highly vulnerable and fragile settings.

COP28 in Dubai began on November 30, 2023 and the first results have already been announced. This week kicked off with the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace. 70 governments and 39 organisations, including adelphi, signed the declaration, which focuses on climate finance for highly vulnerable and fragile settings and includes an initial package of financial, programme and partnership solutions. 

The declaration emphasises the need for decisive collective action to build climate resilience, especially in vulnerable regions. It commits to the swift provision of financial resources and presents initial programme and partnership solutions to address the complex challenges of the climate crisis in vulnerable areas.

In addition to the declaration, delegates at the climate summit adopted a new fund to help vulnerable countries meet the costs of coping with disasters caused by the climate crisis. This gave governments the opportunity to announce contributions. The United Arab Emirates pledged 100 million US dollars, 51 million US dollars came from the UK, 17.5 million US dollars from the USA, ten million US dollars from Japan, 245.39 million dollars from the EU, including 100 million US dollars from Germany.

Event on climate security, peacebuilding and conflict mitigation in Africa at COP28

Africa is one of the regions most affected by the climate crisis and conflicts. The impacts of climate change often exacerbate political, security, socio-economic and development challenges. At the same time, many African countries still lack access to adequate climate finance needed to invest in adaptation and resilience.

On Friday, December 8, adelphi Head of Program Climate Diplomacy and Security Janani Vivekananda will present the findings of the report at a high-level COP28 side event: “African Climate Security Risk Assessment Report: Paving the Way for a Common African Position on Climate, Peace & Security”.

At the event, she will highlight the risks, threats and vulnerabilities exacerbated by the climate crisis and present recommendations to tackle them in a holistic and sustainable way. The event will serve as a catalyst for building and strengthening partnerships dedicated to financing efforts related to climate security, peacebuilding and conflict mitigation.

In addition to Janani Vivekananda, Dennis Tänzler, Director and Head of Programme Climate Policy, Dr. Beatrice Mosello, Senior Advisor for Climate Diplomacy and Zihbin Chen, Senior Manager for Carbon Markets and Pricing will be present at COP28.

"The climate crisis can only be addressed in the context of other crises"

How does Germany intend to strengthen its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and prioritise climate protection in the future? Alexander Carius, co-founder and partner of adelphi, explains in an interview with SWR 2 Wirtschaftsmagazin that the speed of climate protection policy in Germany will tend to slow down, as politicians are currently pursuing a "gentle transformation" approach, even though half of the population is calling for stricter climate protection. Nevertheless, there seems to be a lack of funds, which is made clear not least by the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court regarding the 60 billion euros planned for the climate and transformation fund.

In addition, multiple crises such as wars, inflation and rising energy prices are making it more difficult to focus on climate protection. Alexander Carius sees the need to strengthen global cooperation during COP28. "The climate crisis is one of the key challenges, it would cost us the most money. If we don't solve it, it will lead to social upheaval and tensions. [It does have] a certain priority. But it can only (...) be dealt with in the context of other crises."

Meet the adelphi experts at the following COP28 events:

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