[co-authors: Caroline Shrock and Kulsum Gulamhusein]

Akin is participating at COP28 and providing regular updates from the conference.

COP28 - December 5, 2023 Recap

• A draft of the first Global Stocktake (GST), the document that assesses countries’ progress toward reaching Paris Agreement targets and sets an action plan to meet those targets, was released today. The current draft includes 96 “options” for action, and reports indicate that negotiations are ongoing and remain productive.
• Today, the Global Cooling Watch Report was released in conjunction with the UAE-led Global Cooling Pledge at COP28. Over 60 countries signed the Pledge, committing to reduce the climate impact of the cooling sector. Implementing key measures from the report such as passive cooling, higher-energy efficiency standards and a faster phase down of climate-warming refrigerants could cut predicted emissions by 60-96%.
• After a group of nations pledged last weekend to triple the use of nuclear energy by 2050, U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry unveiled a U.S.-led international plan to boost nuclear fusion during today’s COP28 programming. The five-pillar plan for international engagement includes R&D, supply chains and the marketplace, regulation, workforce, and education and engagement.