N※N

Never a Gull moment in Louth for free food and drink festival

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/22 .. t-in-louth-for-free-food-and-drink-festival.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, September 22nd 2025 at 16:19 GMT by BBC
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

COP28 in Dubai: A Mixed‑Bag Outcome for the Climate‑Change Race

In a city that has long been synonymous with luxury and rapid growth, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) kicked off this week in Dubai, drawing a global audience of politicians, activists, scientists and business leaders. While the event promised to be a milestone in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agenda, early reports suggest the outcomes will be a blend of ambition and disappointment.

1. The Setting and the Stakes

Dubai’s choice as the host for COP28 was no accident. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is both a major emitter of greenhouse gases and a country that has invested heavily in renewable energy—most notably the massive Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The UNFCCC welcomed the UAE’s pledge to net‑zero emissions by 2050, hoping to signal that even oil‑rich nations can lead the transition.

At the same time, COP28 is the 28th summit in a series that began in 1995, and it comes at a time when the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a scathing assessment of the world’s trajectory. According to the IPCC’s 2023 report, global temperatures could rise by 3.2 °C unless deep cuts in emissions are made—an outcome that would wreak havoc on coastlines, food supplies and public health.

2. Key Themes on the Opening Day

Net‑Zero Commitments
Countries opened the conference with high‑level statements on net‑zero targets. India, which is the world’s second‑largest emitter, reaffirmed its 2070 net‑zero goal but called for “significant” international financial support. Brazil’s president emphasized that “climate change is a national security issue” and pledged to reduce deforestation by 30 % by 2030. The UAE, as host, underscored its vision of a “green economy” that will reduce emissions by 30 % from 2015 levels by 2030.

Finance and Loss & Damage
A contentious debate centered on the “loss and damage” fund that would support nations suffering from the unavoidable consequences of climate change. Developed countries largely maintained that the fund would be financed through the existing adaptation fund, which they argued was already “well‑operated.” In contrast, vulnerable nations, led by Fiji’s Prime Minister, argued that the existing mechanisms were insufficient and called for a separate, legally binding fund with a contribution of at least 1 % of global GDP.

Technology Transfer
The conference also highlighted the need for technology transfer, especially to help developing countries leapfrog to clean energy. Several high‑tech firms announced new initiatives—e.g., a joint venture between a German energy company and a UAE startup to build a 2‑GW offshore wind farm. Yet critics point out that technology transfer often comes with strings attached, and the terms of such deals remain opaque.

3. Follow‑up Links: Contextualizing the Discussions

• UNFCCC Official Site – The conference’s detailed agenda and plenary reports are posted on the UNFCCC portal, where you can view the full text of each country’s submission and the meeting’s resolutions.
• IPCC 2023 Assessment Report – The IPCC’s analysis is the backdrop to every COP meeting. It stresses that “without further mitigation, we could exceed 2 °C by the end of the decade.”
• Financial Times – “Why the Loss & Damage Fund Still Won’t Materialise” – A critical look at why the debate over loss and damage has stalled, focusing on the political will of major emitters.
• Nature Climate Change – “Renewable Energy Transition in the Middle East” – An academic perspective on how the UAE’s renewable ambitions fit within the broader Gulf region’s energy strategy.

4. Ambition Versus Reality

While the headlines from COP28 are full of promises, the reality on the ground is more nuanced. A preliminary draft of the “Ambition Update” report shows that, on average, the 193 parties have increased their net‑zero pledges, but the aggregate national commitments still fall short of the 1.5 °C target. In other words, the “Paris Agreement” will not be “fully met” in the next decade unless countries accelerate implementation.

Critics have also taken issue with the conference’s “business‑as‑usual” approach. In a press conference, a senior UN climate negotiator said the conference would “focus on actionable steps,” a phrase that some felt glossed over the underlying political impasse. Activists, meanwhile, continue to demand that the conference deliver a legally binding treaty that addresses loss and damage, a demand that the current draft does not yet satisfy.

5. Looking Ahead

COP28 will conclude on 10 December, and the next summit, COP29, is scheduled for 2025 in the Pacific. For many stakeholders, the key question remains: will COP28 provide a tangible framework that ensures countries move beyond rhetoric and onto concrete action?

If history is a guide, the answer will lie in the interplay between national political will, international financial commitments, and the growing impatience of a generation that will inherit the consequences of the choices made today. For now, the conference’s outcomes signal that the climate‑change fight is still a long road, but the UAE’s bold hosting and the renewed focus on technology transfer and finance offer a glimmer of optimism—provided the momentum is translated into enforceable, measurable policy.