CCAC at COP28 - Daily Updates: 2 December

“Despite all the attention, there is 30 percent more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than there was back then, and almost 40 per cent more methane. Some important progress has been made, but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track as the global stocktake report demonstrates so graphically.” - Statement by King Charles at the COP28 climate summit opening

“Let me start with ambition: Global emissions must peak by 2025. We must phase out fossil fuels. And we must reduce methane emissions. But what we are calling for globally, we also have to deliver domestically. So let me report on what we do in the European Union. The European Union has peaked already. We have reduced emissions. And we are on track to overshoot our target for 2030. And we just adopted a law to drastically reduce methane emissions.” - Statement by Her Excellency Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission at COP28

“Reducing methane emissions is the fastest way to slow the rate of global warming. That is why I am pleased to announce that Kazakhstan has decided to join the Global Commitment to Reduce Methane Emissions," - His Excellency Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan at the High-Level Segment for Heads of States and Government Delivery of National Statements

“Let me also encourage countries to establish net-zero methane emissions targets as part of their next round of NDCs.  Zeroing out methane emissions can make a huge impact in the shortest timeframe.  Let history reflect the fact that this is the COP28 Presidency made a bold choice to proactively engage with oil and gas companies. We had many hard discussions. Let me tell you that wasn't easy. But today many of these companies are committing to zero methane emissions by 2030 for the first time.  And now many national oil companies have adopted net zero 2050 targets for the first time. And I am grateful that they have stepped up to join this game changing journey. but I must say it is not enough. And I know that they can do much more.” -  COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber at the Opening Ceremony of COP28

“Local leaders are often going further and faster than their national governments to tackle the climate crisis. Around the world, leaders like you are reducing fossil fuels, creating green jobs, cleaning up polluted air, and investing in sustainable infrastructure and public transportation systems. And every the step you take is making a difference, and I applaud your leadership. But I must also ask you to do more. I call on local leaders to demand a seat at the table as national governments develop climate policies and regulations. And this is particularly important as countries prepare to present their next round of Nationally Determined Contributions in 2025. These Contributions must be aligned with the 1.5 degree limit and must cover all economic activity and greenhouse gas emissions.” -  UN Secretary-General, António Guterres remarks to the Local Climate Action Summit

---

The Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, launched at COP28, emphasises the intersection of international commitments to combat climate change and nature loss while building resilience in food systems. The Declaration focuses on adapting food systems to climate change, supporting vulnerable groups like smallholder farmers and Indigenous communities, enhancing early warning systems, improving water management in agriculture, protecting and restoring soils and ecosystems, reducing food loss and waste, promoting sustainable aquaculture, encouraging consumption changes, and ensuring access to nutrition. The Declaration, signed by 150 countries addresses various aspects of agriculture's environmental impact, accounting for around 15% of global annual fossil fuel use.  

Over 150 Non-State Actors have signed a Call to Action urging the transformation of food systems for the benefit of people, nature, and climate. Danone is highlighted for aligning its business with the 1.5°C target, with 2030 goals endorsed by the Science Based Targets initiative and Global Methane Pledge. The company aims to increase sourcing from farms transitioning to regenerative agriculture. The Bezos Earth Fund, led by Andy Jarvis, commits $1 billion by 2030 to support food systems transformation addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. COP28 announces grants of $57 million to reduce livestock methane, combat Amazon deforestation, and enhance country-level ambition in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Both Danone and the Bezos Earth Fund emphasize the need for increased ambition, accountability, and collaboration across sectors.

The event No Time to Waste: The Role of the Waste Sector in Achieving the Global Methane Pledge emphasised the pivotal role of the waste sector in combating climate change. The event stressed the importance of recycling organic waste, utilizing biogas, and the broader adoption of circularity strategies to achieve a substantial reduction in global emissions. With over 150 countries signing the Global Methane Pledge and developing national action plans, the event called for collaborative efforts, partnerships, and innovative solutions to address the waste management challenges.

The Clean Air Fund, the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), Berkeley Air Monitoring Group and Orbis Air released a new policy brief on The Case for Action on Black Carbon. The policy brief points to the gap between the growing evidence on black carbon’s regional climate impacts and its absence from global climate strategies. It highlights the importance of reducing black carbon emissions alongside deep decarbonisation.

The Waste Methane Assessment Platform, or WasteMAP, was launched by RMI and Clean Air Task Force, with funding from the Global Methane Hub, to improve waste methane emissions transparency, highlight mitigation opportunities and best practices to reduce solid waste methane emissions By locating and quantifying sources of waste methane emissions, integrating data into a powerful and easy to use model for comparing different mitigation options, and providing resources for implementing mitigation strategies, WasteMAP gives policymakers and waste managers a unique tool to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets like the Global Methane Pledge.

UNEP's IMEO published its 2023 Annual Report, An Eye on Methane: The road to radical transparency, alongside the beta version of the MEO Methane Data platform which features the first public results of the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) pilot period.