Six months to Cop28: will the most vital summit yet make meaningful progress?

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 30 May 2023

⏱️ 17 minutes

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Summary

Every year, the world’s leaders gather for the UN climate change conference. At Cop28, they will be faced with two stark warnings from scientists: we are likely to breach 1.5C warming above pre-industrial levels in the next five years, and we are on course to reach 2.7C of warming by the end of the century. Progress has never been more critical and this year it lies in the hands of the United Arab Emirates, a country that has plans to expand its already extensive oil and gas productions. With six months to go, Madeleine Finlay talks to environment correspondent Fiona Harvey about Cop28’s hosts and president, why this year is particularly key, and how close we are getting to irreversible climate tipping points. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

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0:00.0	This is the Guardian.
0:02.0	Well, if you're not this wall through, you could over plan the living area.
0:11.0	So I'm thinking burnt oka paired with some terracotta times, vary in season right now.
0:16.0	When it comes to making big decisions for how we improve our homes, we rely on the advice of experts.
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0:33.8	decision for your home. search EDF Energy.com slash Energy Specialist to find out more.
0:39.3	The world is on track for 2.7 degrees Celsius of warming above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.
0:52.0	And with it, scientists warn by the end of the century.
0:57.5	And with it scientists warn will be phenomenal human suffering.
1:06.8	By 2030, two billion people would be exposed to average annual temperatures above 29 degrees Celsius. So making this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, a success, is more vital
1:17.1	than ever before. But it won't be easy, not least because it's being hosted by the United Arab Emirates, a big fossil fuel
1:26.1	producing country and it's being presided over by the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
1:34.0	So, with six months to go, what should we expect from COP28?
1:41.0	Will it push us towards our climate goals or will we see yet another year of very dangerous delays?
1:52.0	From the Guardian, I'm Madeline Finley, and this is Science Weekly.
1:57.0	Fiona Harvey, you're an environment editor at The Guardian and as always you've been following
2:07.1	what's been happening with COP very closely, including going to the UAE and doing an exclusive interview with COP28 President Sultan
2:16.4	Algebra and we'll be hearing some clips from that a little bit later.
2:21.2	But a few weeks ago you wrote about a warning from scientists that really threw
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