Over 800 signatories, including global leaders, household name brands, NGOs, public figures, academia and scientists, have come together to call on COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber (pictured) and parties to deliver clear plans for an “orderly phase out of all fossil fuels”, the scaling up for finance of climate initiatives and increased measures to protect biodiversity before the end of conference.
The Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance, the WWF, Octopus Energy, Nestlé, Virgin, SSE and Unilever are among the organisations names that have supported the letter to “ keep 1.5 degrees within reach”.
See ESG Clarity‘s COP28 coverage.
Individuals including the mayors of London, Paris and Freetown, Nigel Topping, global ambassador to the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns, Lord Adair Turner, member of the House of Lords, Jacinda Ardern, former prime ministers of New Zealand and business magnate Richard Branson have also all signed the letter urging Al Jaber to “seize this opportunity”.
“Delivering on this historic task requires us to act like a team,” the letter said as it highlighted we are reaching the final days of COP28 and a “tipping point” for declarations – “later is too late”.
“The signals of transformation and opportunity across sectors and society are all around us. At the same time, the climate emergency is biting harder than ever. It’s up to us to seize this opportunity – because what is achieved here in Dubai must mark a legacy moment which determines the fate of our future generations.
“We – CEOs, mayors, governors, investors, Indigenous peoples, health professionals, young people, faith leaders, scientists, athletes and more – stand in courage and resolve with the COP28 president and all parties in bringing us together behind a rapid response plan to the global stocktake,” the letter stated.
It outlined the following outcomes need to be supported:
- An orderly phase out of all fossil fuels in a just & equitable way, in line with a 1.5C trajectory – whilst ensuring the tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 from 2022 levels and the doubling of energy efficiency.
- The enabling environment to scale up and shift public and private finance, with developed countries taking the lead in action and support; putting a price on carbon and tripling investments for renewable energy.
- The halt and reversal of deforestation and land degradation as well as biodiversity & other ecosystem loss by 2030; ensure resilient food systems and deliver a strong global goal on adaptation.
“These outcomes must be supported by the implementation and ratcheting of Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans well before COP30 in 2025 which align with 1.5C and incorporate multi-stakeholder efforts within them,” it added.
Click here to see the full list of signatories.
