Doha talks a thumbs-up for region

It seems climate change has fallen dramatically off the world agenda. The Doha climate talks results (COP18) represent a modest outcome of the two weeks of negotiations. Even then, I believe it is a step forward on the very long way to solve climate crisis.

The problem is a lack of leadership. World leaders are not able to put their national interests aside and work on a common global agenda which requires practical steps towards a new strong climate deal. The problem with politicians is that they are locked in the old ways of doing things which proved to be unsustainable and inequitable and thus resulted in economic crisis, climate crisis, food crisis ... and the list goes on. This also means that top-down solving of the world’s problems is no longer an option. The pressure of people and various groups such as civil society, women, science and technology community, farmers, youth and children etc is central to push governments to act responsibly and timely to avoid terrible impacts of climate change.

Although there is increasing scientific evidence that temperature and sea level are rising faster than we think, it appears we have already exceeded the two-degree limit. If that is the case, there are absolutely catastrophic consequences. The symptoms of a warmer world are already with us — stronger storms, heavier floods and hotter, longer heat waves. Still, developed countries in COP18 climate negotiations were unwilling to admit their guilt and acknowledge their role in global warming.

Despite the success in COP28 in getting 35 industrialised nations to renew the Kyoto Protocol until the end of 2020. The big greenhouse gas emitters like Russia, Japan and Canada have bowed out of the only legally binding treaty that forces countries to lower their emissions. This means the supporters who are now bound by the Kyoto protocol — namely, Australia and several European countries — account for only 15 per cent of global emissions. Only the European Union (EU) Commission agreed to contribute to the $20 billion (Dh73.56 billion) global climate change fund agreed to at COP15.

Rich countries like the US, Canada and Japan refused to sign an interim agreement to cut emissions and the very mention of a Loss and Damage Fund owed to poor, vulnerable nations seems to give everybody the jitters. Rich nations cite the global economic crisis as justification for their reluctance to make commitments.

Now developing nations can blame rich countries like US, Canada and Japan for refusing to sign an interim successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol that would bind them to emissions reductions.

Qatar and region is a winner:

On the positive front, Doha’s organisational and logistical preparedness for such a huge event was a real success. With regard to climate talks itself, I am sure the region’s image — especially that of the Gulf countries, rich in oil and natural gas — has changed a lot. The image has improved, in fact, from just being a rich oil-and-gas producing region blocking climate talks to a very positive one that cares about the future of the planet.

It is very significant to have Qatar host the COP. This was the first time it was held in the Arab World, and in a GGC country in particular, and that sent out a very positive signal to the rest of the world that GCC views towards climate change had changed.

There is no doubt that the UN climate change conference has put the spotlight on the Arabian Gulf region with regard to how it plans to go green and allow the region to showcase various green projects, particularly in the field of renewable energy. The event also played an instrumental role in raising awareness among people, especially the youth from the Arab world, about climate change impacts on the region as well as the importance of taking serious and quick actions to fight climate change. The event helped bring to attention, maybe for the first time, climate change and its impact on ordinary people. It is the responsibility of governments, climate activists, civil society to keep the interest focused on climate change as it will affect economic conditions, water availability, migration and human life in general.

Dr Mohamed Abdel Raouf is an independent environmental researcher.