COP28: climate oasis or mirage?

Welcome to the Strawman, the daily climate newsletter that’s cooler than a camel wearing sunglasses. Today, we’ll be exploring COP28 - what it is, why this one’s special, and the unique(?) nature of this year’s host.

What is COP?

COP stands for Conference of the Parties and is the annual UN summit on climate change. In the Game of Straws™️, it’s a little bit like the red wedding - but green. 200 countries get together to discuss, negotiate, and (hopefully) take meaningful action to tackle climate change.

Imagine a speed-dating event where everyone talks about saving the planet instead of their favourite movies or hobbies. This global gathering aims to limit the rise in Earth's temperature by addressing greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and other urgent climate issues.

What’s special about COP28?

The latest installment, COP28, is right around the corner, and it's bringing its eco-friendly party to the United Arab Emirates. When the Strawman read that, he had to spit out his drink. The host of this year’s climate change conference is one of the nations most dependent on oil wealth.

Now some defend this decision. To combat climate change, you need everyone that matters around the table - including the biggest emitters. With that being said, there’s some pros and cons to having the UAE host.

Pros

• Showcasing progress: Hosting COP28 offers the UAE a chance to showcase its efforts towards a greener future, giving hope that even oil giants can change their ways.

• Regional representation: GCC nations like the UAE have a big role to play in our climate transition and the UAE can bring a unique perspective to the table, encourage regional peers to take action.

Cons

• Freedom of speech: The UAE has raised eyebrows with its rules on protests and criticism - including warning speakers not to criticise corporations. This is on top of the illegality of protesting more generally within the UAE.

• Conflict of interest: Some might question the UAE's commitment to climate action, given its deep ties to the fossil fuel industry. It's like asking a fox to guard the henhouse... of climate diplomacy.

So, there you have it, folks! COP28 is gearing up to be an event full of intrigue, diplomacy, and (hopefully) some positive climate action. Let's hope they can strike a balance between oil money and eco-friendly ambitions.

That's all for today's sizzling edition of The Strawman! If you enjoyed our walk into the desert, don't keep it to yourself – share the newsletter with friends and spread the love like sand in a sandstorm.