Dear John

I just got back from the UN climate talks in Dubai – COP28 – and I want to let you know how it went and how you can stay involved.

There have been a lot of worrying headlines. Like the accusations of climate denial faced by the COP28 president [1]. Or the record number of fossil fuel lobbyists at the talks [2]. The reality is that even with the new resolution agreed, powerful countries will allow planetary collapse to continue.

But I’ve also come home with my sense of hope intact.

Even before the talks started, tens of thousands of you signed our open letter – to demand the prime minister sticks to his promise to cut carbon emissions by two-thirds by 2030. Having all your voices behind us makes our message much more powerful. I’ll let you know when I hear back from Rishi Sunak’s office.

Here are 3 other things that stood out at COP28:

1. A loss and damage fund for people, communities and countries most vulnerable to climate breakdown was cemented on day 1 of the talks. This fund could include climate-disaster relief. Or help farmers whose land has been ruined by sea-level rise.
   
   This is welcome news. But the amount pledged falls far short of what’s needed. We need to keep pushing rich countries to put much more money in the pot. And make sure the fund is used in line with the needs of people suffering climate impacts most.
   
   
2. The need to fast-track the switch of energy production from fossil fuels to renewables was high on this year’s agenda.
   
   It’s great this has become so prominent. But the final deal was very weak, due to some wealthy countries blocking finance to help poorer nations switch. Without financial support, the fossil fuel phase-out only exists on paper.
   
   New renewables targets are welcome. But they could mean clean power is added on top of, rather than replacing, more dirty oil, coal and gas. Like our own prime minister’s plans to “max out” on new oil, coal and gas.
   
   
3. There was a strong sense of people coming together, even though space for freedom of speech and protest was limited this year.
   
   So we were far from alone in calling for climate justice. For richer countries to take the lead on ending fossil fuels fairly. And for more climate finance to help countries most vulnerable to climate change.
   
   The collective energy of people demanding more from our leaders always gives me hope.

This was my seventh COP summit. Like all of them, it was a mixed bag and generally an unfair deal for countries on the frontline of climate impacts. So campaigning for climate action mustn’t slow down now it’s finished.

I’d like your help to shape the next steps to tackle the climate and energy crises. Do you have 5 minutes to answer a few questions, starting with this simple one?

Before COP28 started, did you know the UK has set a target to reduce emissions by at least 68% by 2030?

Thanks in advance for your answers. They’ll help us make our campaigns for people and planet even more impactful.

Whether you’re a new supporter or you’ve been supporting Friends of the Earth for a long time, we’d love to hear from you.

Even though talks at COP28 have closed for another year, we’ll keep pushing for bolder climate action. We know there’s still a long way to go. But some of the agreements made at this year’s COP, and the involvement of so many of you, gives me hope for the future.

I’ll be in touch soon with more ways we can make a difference together.

Best wishes,

Rachel Kennerley

Climate campaigner

Friends of the Earth

NOTES:

[1] COP28 president says there is “no science” behind demands for phase-out of fossil fuels: The Guardian.

[2] Record number of fossil fuel lobbyists get access to COP28 climate talks: The Guardian.