‘Mutual accords crucial for climate talks’

While there is a lot of talk and criticism about COP28, SDPI Executive Director, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri has said that there is no good or bad COP for climate; what is important is applying the Win-Win mindset which is crucial for effective climate change negotiations.

He was speaking at seminar titled “SDPI’s Response To COP28: From Consensus To Realisation” organised by SDPI the other day.

Dr Suleri said that the commitment to transition away from fossil fuels is a yet welcome decision and hoped that the government of Azerbaijan will follow the footsteps of UAE government in the next COP and will continue to build this momentum on fossil fuel transition ultimately leading to fossil fuel phase out. He said that this decision will open new avenues for investment, technology development, global stock take and greater global cooperation.

He said that world governments mobilised US$30 Trillion to combat COVID19; same spirit is needed to combat the climate pandemic too. Following individual personal interests might enable countries to become climate smart but will not last long and only Win-Win approach can be effective in the long-run.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov, addressing the session said that climate action cannot move forward without economic development which underlines key role of private sector in driving economic growth. This calls for the governments to develop policies in consultation with the private sector.

Read Nations strike deal at COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels

Shedding light on the impact of conflicts on the environment, he said that Azerbaijan aims for a clean environment realising the grave environmental impact of conflicts experienced by Azerbaijan. He said the government of Azerbaijan has termed 2024 “Green World Solidarity Year” and plans to increase the share of renewable energy by 30% and inhibit greenhouse gas inhibition to 35% by 2040 and 40% by 2050.

He stressed that the country is ambitious to deliver on its national climate commitments and aims to strengthen multi-lateral partnerships and global cooperation which is also evident from the plans to export 4GW of renewable energy to Europe through Black Sea.

Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, Chairperson of BOG SDPI, said that COP28 succeeded in operationalising Loss and Damage Fund, and a total of US$800 million was pledged by countries as the baseline.

COP28 also recognised that global community had not delivered in any area including mitigation, adaptation, adoption of science and technology, and weak partnerships but the decision to transition away from fossil fuels is a big success. He stressed that COP-29 will have to deal with new quantified financial goals and must use the US$100 billion as the baseline and the ceiling must be escalated with more financial assistance flowing from developed to developing countries for effective and sustainable climate action.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2024.