Dakar Declaration on Climate Change for COP28

• 11 Oct 2023

Recently, ministers representing the world's 46 least developed countries (LDCs) have jointly issued the Dakar Declaration on Climate Change 2023, outlining their expectations and priorities for the upcoming 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Key Points

• Key Expectations: The Dakar Declaration emphasizes the need for urgent global reductions in emissions, increased climate finance, a robust implementation of the new Loss and Damage Fund, and an ambitious Global Stocktake to address gaps in global climate action.
• COP28 Dates: COP28 is scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• LDC Contribution and Challenges: Despite LDCs accounting for over 14% of the global population, their contribution to emissions from fossil fuels and industrial processes is only about 1%.
• These countries bear minimal historical responsibility for climate change, yet they face the most significant challenges in adapting to its impacts and are among the hardest hit by the climate crisis.
• IPCC AR6 Findings: The ministers highlight the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment Reports cycle (IPCC AR6), indicating the continued rise in global greenhouse gas emissions and the rapid approach to a 1.5°C global warming scenario.
• Urgent Emission Reductions: They call on all Parties, particularly major emitters, to urgently and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• There is also an urgent need to revisit and strengthen the 2030 targets within their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to align them with the necessary global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
• Climate Finance: Developed countries are urged to present a clear roadmap for doubling adaptation finance by 2025 through public, grant-based financing.
• The ministers demand a New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, significantly surpassing the current $100 billion annual floor.
• Operationalizing UNFCCC Mechanisms: The declaration calls for the operationalization of the UNFCCC's centralized carbon market mechanism by 2024.
• It should consider the unique needs and circumstances of LDCs and implement the capacity-building program under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.