COP28 will soon be hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12th, with over 70,000 delegates expected throughout the two-week conference.

What is COP28?

“COP” stands for Conference of the Parties, referring to the 197 nations that agreed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992.

The United Nations (UN) climate change conferences, which include COPs, have grown over time, currently being the largest annual conferences held under UN management.

COP meetings are held annually in order to assess the progress made by parties in achieving the objectives of the UNFCCC in limiting the rise of the average global temperature.

An important milestone in COP history was the legally binding 2015 Paris Agreement. Its main objective was to maintain “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and “limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels [before the Industrial Revolution] ”According to the UNFCCC, limiting global warming to 1.5°C requires “greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest and decline 43% by 2030”.

The President-Designate for COP28, H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, has emphasized the importance of accelerated climate action to reach the 43% decrease goal by 2030, which is 7 years away. “Together, we will prioritize efforts to accelerate emissions reductions through a pragmatic energy transition, reform land use, and transform food systems”, he writes.

The UAE will be the second Middle Eastern country, following Qatar in 2012, to host the event. The conferences rotate annually among the five United Nations regional groups.

Earlier this year, NYUAD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the COP28 Presidency to cooperate on climate action focused programming, youth engagement opportunities, and research centered around the Dubai climate conference

In its contractual agreement on the MoU, NYUAD and the Network Chair of Universities Climate Network (UCN), a group of 33 UAE higher education institutions, have facilitated the creation of workshops, public events, and youth programs in the UCNto increase youth engagement leading up to and with COP28.

NYUAD has also signed MoU’s with Environment Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy for collaboration on climate-related research and developments in energy and water efficiency.

NYUAD is hosting 2023’s Student Energy Summit on campus and in Dubai Expo City from Nov. 29th to Dec. 1st. The summit will be the world’s largest youth-led energy conference and the first of its kind in the Middle EastNYUAD students are also co-hosting YOUNGO Global Conference of Youth (COY 18) on Nov. 26th, the largest youth conference related to UN climate processes.

Moreover, NYUAD is supporting the COP28 Youth Climate Champion (YCC) pavilion’s Meet the Mentors program alongside Class of 2014 Alumni and Minister of Community Development H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui. The program will connect youth with mentors in the field, allowing them to benefit from valuable insights into climate action and related careers in the field.

Furthermore, NYUAD has published a Climate Action Plan with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Details of this plan and possible concerns over the university’s unaddressed Scope 3 carbon emissions have previously been explored in detail by the Gazelle.

**Can I Participate? **

COP28 includes a Blue Zone and a Green Zone. The Blue Zone is only accessible to delegates of governments and certain organizations. However, all members of the public can access the Green Zone, which includes technology exhibits, art installations, film screenings, and talks.

NYUAD has arranged transportation to and from the EXPO site from Nov. 30th until Dec. 12th (except on Dec. 7, a rest day). Departures will be at 7:30 AM, and returns occur at 1 PM and 5 PM.

As COP events from Nov. 30th until Dec. 2nd are invite only, NYUAD transportation will only be provided to those with invites.

NYUAD-supported Green Zone events include Disability Rights and the Climate Crisis: Climate Disasters, Extreme Weather Events, and Humanitarian Response on Dec. 1st, Climate Equity and Inclusion Solutions For Education, Resilience, and Empowerment: Climate Knowledge For All on Dec. 6th, and Innovate to Nourish: Finance and Technology for Food Security on Dec. 10th.

Tickets are currently available.