Episodes
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Voices from Asia Part 4: The climate conundrum faced by COP28 host UAE
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Voices from Asia is a four-part podcast series by the National University of Singapore (NUS). Launched in November 2023, the episodes aim to relate discussions at the annual United Nations (UN) climate conference, COP28, to audiences in Asia.
In this episode, host Audrey Tan from the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions (CNCS) speaks to Dr Aisha Al-Sarihi, a research fellow at the university’s Middle East Institute, on the climate conundrum faced by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is hosting the United Nations COP28 climate conference.
Tune in to hear her analysis of why the UAE, like other countries in the Middle East, is calling for a “phase down”, instead of a “phase out”, of fossil fuels; and how carbon markets could help the oil-producing region buy time in its green transition.
Key points:
Are the concerns about an oil-producing region hosting a climate change conference justified? (1:12)
What is the climate conundrum faced by the Middle East? (5:06)
The race to “buy time” as the Middle East prepares for a post-oil future (8:41)
What tools are the Middle Eastern countries relying on to cut emissions? (12:24)
What will the UAE’s presidency at COP28 mean for the rest of the world? (16:35)
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Voices from Asia is a four-part podcast series by the National University of Singapore (NUS). Launched in November 2023, the episodes aim to relate discussions at the annual United Nations (UN) climate conference, COP28, to audiences in Asia.
In this episode, host Audrey Tan from the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions (CNCS) chats with Ms Danielle Yeow, an adjunct senior research fellow at the Centre for International Law at NUS, on an issue that will be closely watched at this year’s conference: Whether countries will agree on the sources of funding for the newly established loss and damage fund.
At COP27 last year, history was made when countries finally agreed to establish a loss and damage fund, after failing to reach a consensus on this for years. This fund is widely considered a mechanism by which developing countries – who are suffering from climate impacts caused by the historical emissions of wealthy countries – are compensated for the losses and damages caused by climate disasters. But details of the fund, such as its sources of financing and the criteria for which countries are eligible for financing, were left to this year’s conference.
Tune in to hear from Ms Yeow on the expectations for loss and damage at COP28, and why this negotiation track is one that developing countries - including those in Asia - are watching closely.
Key points:
What does loss and damage refer to? (0:57)
Is the loss and damage fund set up at COP27 a compensation fund? (5:43)
The history of loss and damage in climate negotiations (9:48)
What is the position of countries in Asia toward loss and damage? (16:27)
What are the outstanding issues on loss and damage? (17:41)
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Voices from Asia is a four-part podcast series by the National University of Singapore (NUS). Launched in November 2023, the episodes aim to relate discussions at the annual United Nations (UN) climate conference, COP28, to audiences in Asia.
In this episode, host Audrey Tan from the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions chats with Ms Illari Aragon, the Climate Justice Policy Lead at Christian Aid, the relief and development agency of 41 Christian churches in the UK and Ireland. Ms Aragon is also an expert in climate finance - one of the topics that negotiators will be discussing at COP28.
Countries are expected to continue negotiations on the new collective quantified goal on climate finance at COP28. This new goal will replace the climate finance commitment set in 2009, which aimed to mobilize $100 billion per year for developing countries by 2020. The $100 billion commitment – which has not been met anyway – will expire in 2025. Discussions on this new climate finance target started in 2022, and will continue at COP28. The hope is that an agreement for this new quantum will be reached by COP29 next year.
Tune in to this episode to find out what are the roadblocks to the establishment of this new goal, and the importance of negotiations on climate finance to countries in Asia - among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Key points:
What constitutes climate finance? (1:34)
How did the $100 billion target for climate finance come about? (5:12)
What are some points of contention about the flow of funds from developed to developing countries? (7:35)
How will the process of negotiation for the new goal differ from earlier ones? (12:22)
What perspectives do countries in Asia bring to negotiations on the new climate finance target? (15:10)
What could the new climate finance target look like? (18:31)
For more information on the new collective quantified goal for climate finance, refer to the latest briefing paper from Illari here.
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Voices from Asia Part 1: Why is COP28’s global stocktake so important?
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Voices from Asia is a four-part podcast series by the National University of Singapore (NUS). Launched in November 2023, the episodes aim to relate discussions at the annual United Nations (UN) climate conference, COP28, to audiences in Asia.
In this episode, host Audrey Tan from the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions (CNCS) chats with Ms Melissa Low, a long-time observer of the UN climate conferences and a research fellow at CNCS, about a key event at this year’s COP – the conclusion of the global stocktake, the first since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015.
The global stocktake provides a snapshot of where the world is at when it comes to cutting emissions, adapting to climate impacts, and providing support for developing countries. It also sets out possible pathways and solutions needed for scaled up climate ambition.
Meant to be undertaken every five years, the global stocktakes will guide countries in setting more ambitious targets under the Paris Agreement. The next round of submissions is due in 2025, and this year’s outcome could set a precedent for how strongly countries reference the global stocktake in setting subsequent targets.
Ahead of COP28 in September 2023, the United Nations released a synthesis report which summarized the three technical dialogues held on the first global stocktake. The report’s conclusion echoes that of numerous other reports: that the world is off track to averting catastrophic climate change impacts.
So what differentiates this report from the others, and why does it matter for Asia? Hear from Ms Melissa Low as she breaks down the significance of the global stocktake, and the importance of COP28 negotiations in bringing the report from paper to implementation.
Key points:
What differentiates the latest synthesis report on the first global stocktake from other climate reports? (5:58)
What is going to happen at COP28, now that the synthesis report has already been published? (8:50)
What parts of the Global Stocktake synthesis report are especially relevant for Asia? (9:40)
What would a good outcome from the political process of the Global Stocktake look like? (12:27)
About the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions
The Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions is a focal point for world-class research and thought leadership on climate change impacts and solutions in service of society. The Centre’s vision is to empower society to respond appropriately and decisively to the challenges and opportunities of climate change.