2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50

Posted on 16 December 2023 by John Hartz

Story of the Week

Nearly every country in the world has agreed to “transition away from fossil fuels” – the main driver of climate change – at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

It is the first time such an agreement has been reached in 28 years of international climate negotiations.

The commitment is included in the first “global stocktake” of how countries can accelerate action to meet the goals of the landmark Paris Agreement.

However, many countries walked away from the talks frustrated at the lack of a clear call for a fossil-fuel “phase-out” this decade – and at a “litany of loopholes” in the text that might enable the production and consumption of coal, oil and gas to continue. 

Despite an early breakthrough on launching a fund to pay for “loss and damage” from climate change, developing countries were left disappointed by a lack of new financial commitments for transitioning away from fossil fuels and adapting to climate impacts.

COP28 president and oil executive Dr Sultan Al Jaber hailed the “world-first” achievement of getting “fossil fuels” in a UN climate change agreement.

However, his presidency was overshadowed by allegations the UAE intended to use COP28 to make oil-and-gas deals.

Away from the negotiations, COP28 brought a wave of new international pledges – covering everything from oil-and-gas company emissions and tripling renewables, through to food systems and how the world can better integrate action on climate change and biodiversity loss.

Here, Carbon Brief provides in-depth analysis of all the key outcomes in Dubai – both inside and outside the COP.

Click here to access the entire article as originally posted on the Carbon Brief website.

COP28: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Dubai Nearly every country in the world has agreed to “transition away from fossil fuels” – the main driverof climate change – at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.Multiple Authors, UN Climate Talks, Carbon Brief, Dec 13, 2023

Articles posted on Facebook 

Sunday, Dec 10, 2023

• COP28 clashes over fossil fuel phase-out after OPEC pushback by Kate Abnett, Valerie Volcovici & Yousef Saba, Business, Reuters, Dec 9, 2023
• Why is the phase-out of fossil fuels the biggest flashpoint at Cop28? The issue dominating the climate talks may appear to be a simple scientific one but is in fact complex and deeply political, Explainer by Damian Carrington, Environment, The Guardian, Dec 9, 2023
• Cop28 bulletin: Adaptation stalemate jeopardises Cop28 outcome by Matteo Civillini, Joe Lo & Sebastian Rodriguez, Newsletters, Climate Home News, Dec 10, 2023
• The Climate Can’t Afford Another Trump Presidency His approach to the environment: ignore it. by Zoë Schlanger, Science, The Atlantic Magazine, Dec 4, 2023 [Editor’s Note: This article is part of “If Trump Wins,” a project considering what Donald Trump might do if reelected in 2024.] 

Monday, Dec 11, 2023

• How Mounting Demand for Rubber Is Driving Tropical Forest Loss The growing market for rubber is a major, but largely overlooked, cause of tropical deforestation, new analysis shows. Most of the rubber goes to produce tires, more than 2 billion a year, and experts warn the transition to electric vehicles could accelerate rubber use. by Fred Pearce, Yale Environment 360, Dec 4, 2023
• Will COP28 End Up as the Greatest Flop in Global Climate Diplomacy Thus Far? Environmental economist James K. Boyce analyzes the roadblocks to climate action at the COP28 climate summit. by C.J. Polychroniou, Environemnt & Health, Truthout, Dec 9, 2023
• The planet is warming so fast, it could cross a key climate limit in 2024 New research shows the planet on track to top a warming benchmark next year. Many at COP28 remain hopeful the world can avoid that threshold. by Chico Harlan, Scott Dance, Timothy Puko & Maxine Joselow, Climate-Environment, Washington Post, Dec 8, 2023
• What happens if the 1.5C target for global heating is missed? The Guardian asks five climate experts to explain the key differences between 1.5C and 2C by Jonathan Watts, Environment, The Guardian, Dec 8, 2023

Tuessday, Dec 12, 2023

• Climate change is pushing Earth toward these 5 disastrous scenarios, report says by Doyle Rice, Weather, USA TODAY, Dec 9, 2023 
• UN sets out roadmap to combat global hunger amid climate crisis Targets include cutting methane emissions from livestock by 25%, halving food waste and managing fisheries sustainably by 2030 by Fiona Harvey, Environment, The Guardian, Dec 10, 2023
• At a glance – Does breathing contribute to CO2 buildup in the atmosphere? by John Mason & Baerbel Winkler, Skeptical Science, Dec 12, 2023
• COP28 has become a shameless exercise in the fight against climate change. But can we afford to walk out?, Opinion by Michael E. Mann & Susan Joy Hassol, LA Times, Dec 11, 2023

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023

• ‘Unprecedented mass coral bleaching’ expected in 2024, says expert 2023 is first year of potential pair of El Niño years and since 1997, every instance of these pairs has led to mass coral mortality by Karen McVeigh, Environment, The Guardian, Dec 7, 2023
• COP Can’t Go On Like This Geopolitics, the heightened importance of climate change, and the sheer size of the conference have transformed the event into something that it was never meant to be. by Robinson Meyer, Climate, Heatmap, Dec 12, 2023
• After 30 years of waiting, Cop28 deal addresses the elephant in the room He was personally vilified, but Sultan Al Jaber has managed what no other Cop presidency has ever done, Analysis by Fiona Harvey, Environment, The Guardian, Dec 13, 2023
• COP28: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Dubai Nearly every country in the world has agreed to “transition away from fossil fuels” – the main driverof climate change – at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.Multiple Authors, UN Climate Talks, Carbon Brief, Dec 13, 2023

Thursday, Dec 14, 2023

• Examining COP28’s potential impact on climate change by Matt McGrath, Science, BBC News, Dec 13, 2023
• Scientists uncover a surprising phenomenon in the Himalayas that might be slowing the effects of climate change by Allison Cinchar, CNN, Dec 12, 2023
• The world now has a roadmap for food and climate. But it’s missing a few things. by Max Graham, Climate, Grist, Dec 14, 2023
• ‘The time for action is now’: NOAA’s Arctic Report Card paints a dire picture of climate change by Kavitha George, Alaska Public Media/NPR Newx, Dec 14, 2023

Friday, Dec 15, 2023

• COP28 Does Not Deliver Clear Path to Fossil Fuel Phase Out Small island states that arrived after the document was approved, don’t accept the outcome as a consensus decision. by Bob Berwyn, Fossil Fuels, Inside Climate News, Dec 13, 2023
• How will El Niño affect the U.S. this winter? Strong El Niño events like this one have classic calling cards, but surprises still happen — especially on a warming planet. by Bob Henson, Eye of the Storm, Yale Climate Connections, Dec 12, 2023
• ‘The future is renewable’: How a huge gamble sealed Cop28 deal The signs were pointing to a lukewarm Cop. Instead it turned out to be full of surprises – but is the final deal on fossil fuels just a ruse? by Fiona Harvey, Environment, The Guardian, Dec 15, 2023
• Last month was by far the world’s hottest November on record For the third month in row, the planet broke an all-time monthly heat record by a remarkable margin. by Jeff Masters & Bob Henson, Eye on the Storm, Yale Climate Connections, Dec 14, 2023

Saturday, Dec 16, 2023

• A Year of ‘Unreal’ Fire and Warming in the Arctic Observations from researchers and residents, published annually in a report by NOAA, reveal a region grappling with rapid change by Delger Erdenesanaa, Climate, New York Times, Dec 12, 2023
• Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Want Climate Change Taught In Schools So why isn’t it happening? by Jeva Lange, Climate Heatmap, Dec 15, 2023
• Cranky Uncle with Dr. John Cook by Melanie Trecek-King, Thinking is Power on YouTube, Dec 16, 2023
• ltigating Enforcement: Germany’s Contested Climate Governance and the New Wave of Climate Litigation by Maxim Bönnemann, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School, Dec 12, 2023