Time for Climate Action: CATIE @ COP28
Written by Katie Modic
As world leaders convene in Dubai this week for COP28, it may be tempting to write off the yearly global climate summits as too lofty and inefficient to tackle the magnitude of this crisis. However, last year, world leaders agreed to create a loss and damage fund to help countries hardest hit by the climate crisis repair historical damage and tackle future losses. Therefore, this year’s talks still offer a critical opportunity for smaller countries directly impacted by the climate crisis to advocate for actions and equitable solutions.
On the agenda this year, not only do wealthy countries need to finance the fund, they also must fulfill their existing commitments and reduce the financial burdens shouldered by vulnerable countries. And this year’s summit host—a major oil producer—underscores the need to hold the fossil fuel sector accountable and recommit to lower emissions.
CATIE’s leadership team will be in attendance at this year’s summit to advocate for the 13 member-countries who make up its primary network. The team will share a critical message: At CATIE we confront the challenges of climate action comprehensively, incorporating knowledge generation and dissemination, the integration of science into decision making, community capacity building, and the development of technologies and tools enabling mitigation and adaptation responses to meet the needs in the Latin American region.
CATIE’s collaborative networks throughout LAC are key in fulfilling adaptation and mitigation goals. Alongside critical partners, CATIE’s strategies and actions are driving a regional agenda accelerating the transition toward just, equitable and sustainable energy, addressing climate finance, and placing nature and people at the core of sustainable pathways. Of upmost importance, CATIE also advocates for an inclusive COP supporting women, indigenous peoples, local communities, youth, subnational actors and faith based organizations.
With the Paris Agreement’s pledge to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius looking more elusive every day, progress in addressing the climate crisis has been far too slow. That is why world leaders must use this COP to meet the moment with bold, equitable, and workable solutions. While the challenge is formidable, CATIE’s DG Muhammad Ibrahim shares that “CATIE’s determination and commitment are even more substantial”.