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As world leaders convene in Dubai this week for COP28, it may be tempting to write off the yearly global climate summits as too technocratic and inefficient to tackle the magnitude of this crisis. However, Open Society’s Yamide Dagnet argues that the talks still offer a critical opportunity for smaller countries directly impacted by the climate crisis to advocate for actions and equitable solutions.
Last year, world leaders agreed to create a loss and damage fund to help countries hardest hit by the climate crisis repair historical damage and tackle future losses. On the agenda this year, not only do wealthy countries need to finance the fund, they also must fulfill their existing commitments and reduce the financial burdens shouldered by vulnerable countries. And this year’s summit host—a major oil producer—underscores the need to hold the fossil fuel sector accountable and recommit to lower emissions.
With the Paris Agreement’s pledge to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius looking more elusive every day, progress in addressing the climate crisis has been far too slow. That is why world leaders must use this COP to meet the moment with bold, equitable, and workable solutions.
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