COP28 United Nations conference kicks off
Today, on 30 November, COP28 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commences. This year's conference is being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for two weeks. According to preliminary estimates, it will be the largest COP in history, with more than 70,000 people from around the world planning to attend the talks and events. The President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, and the Lithuanian delegation led by him are also participating in the conference.
COP28 will begin with a session of Heads of State on 1-2 December, during which the President of the Republic of Lithuania will deliver a national report on Lithuania's achievements in managing climate change. He will also participate in the Leaders' Roundtable on scaling up mitigation targets.
Ministerial meetings are scheduled for 9-10 December, with the participation of Environment Minister Simonas Gentvilas. The Ministerial Sessions aim to assess the overall progress of the Parties to the 1st Paris Agreement (with a view to adopting a political declaration), scale up mitigation ambition, strengthen adaptation action, and establish a Climate Finance, Loss and Damage Support Fund.
The European Union, in collaboration with Lithuania and other EU Member States, will seek a number of important decisions and actions at COP28.
The assessment of the overall progress made by the Parties to the 1st Paris Agreement proposes maintaining the goal of limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5 °C, providing impetus for sustainable, climate-resilient development, and making recommendations for a scaled-up action plan for mitigation and adaptation up to 2030 and beyond.
Efforts will be made to renew countries' increased mitigation targets and support the adoption of an ambitious COP28 decision on the Mitigation Action Programme. Furthermore, there are plans to adopt global renewable energy and energy efficiency targets for 2030 to phase out fossil fuels and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies.
The decision on the Smooth Transition Framework provides for an exchange of information between countries on the implementation of national smooth transition actions and for social dialogue and the participation of all stakeholders.
The decision on a further strengthened cooperation structure includes the establishment of clear objectives for the implementation of the Glasgow-Sharm el-Sheikh Global Adaptation Goal work programme.
To provide leadership and set an example for other countries, the EU and its Member States have renewed their commitments under the Paris Agreement ahead of COP28, considering the adoption of the EU's "Fit for 55" package of legislation.
At the national level, Lithuania is even more ambitious, with the National Climate Change Management Agenda setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 70% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to make Lithuania's economy climate-neutral and circular by 2050. The EU's Fit for 55 package, adopted in June 2023, will help achieve these targets. Lithuania submitted an updated draft National Energy and Climate Action Plan to the European Commission in June 2020.
This conference serves as a key platform to accelerate action on climate change mitigation and adaptation and strengthen international cooperation in this area. It consists of two zones: the Blue Zone for formal negotiations and high-level meetings between government representatives, where discussions, negotiations, and decision-making processes related to mitigation, adaptation, and finance take place.