The annual UN climate conference held in Dubai has generated mixed reactions worldwide as countries unanimously agreed to a historic ‘global stocktake,’ signaling a shift away from fossil fuels.
In a Vatican News interview, Joachim von Braun, President of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, who was present at the conference expressed his initial surprise at the outcome.
“COP28 experienced a lot of global attention, so the expectations were high. I must say my expectations were not as high, having been around on the campus in Dubai. But I’m all in all pleasantly surprised about the final outcome document,” he said.
Despite some disappointment, he recognized the significance of the ‘stock-taking document,’ which, for the first time, included a commitment to “phasing down” fossil fuels, aligning with Pope Francis’s call for “phasing out”.
“If we look at the statement of Pope Francis that was presented at the beginning of COP28, we see a significant congruence with some key points in the outcome document,” said von Braun.
In response to concerns raised by organizations like CAFOD, von Braun highlighted the importance of incremental progress. While the outcomes were softer than Pope Francis’s initial recommendations, he considered the shift to ‘phasing down’ a breakthrough and noted the new focus on achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Well, the formulations there are softer, and that’s why disappointment is appropriate. But for the first time, ‘phasing down,’ that’s a formulation in the outcome document, the so-called ‘stock-taking document’ to be formal, and it’s a breakthrough,” he said.
Von Braun underscored the insufficient progress in supporting poorer nations. While there were improvements in climate financing, particularly for the Green Climate Fund, he emphasized the need for more substantial resources to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on the global poor.
“The complete consensus of 200 plus countries at these COPs makes consensus building too difficult. We have already lost too much time,” he said.
Despite Pope Francis’s absence due to health reasons, von Braun asserted that the Pope’s spirit was present, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin delivering the Pope’s message, which gained significant attention.
He highlighted the ongoing dialogue between science and faith, with a dedicated Faith Pavilion at COP28, showcasing the collaboration between faith communities and scientific insights.
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences played a significant role in shaping the discussion, releasing a statement ahead of COP28.
The statement called for a new approach, emphasizing a combination of bending the warming curve, accelerating adaptation, and transforming economic systems, including changes in consumption habits.
It also advocated for broader inclusion of local communities, leading to a conference planned in May 2024 at the Vatican.
Von Braun stressed the importance of a stronger focus on science and knowledge-sharing to address climate change and health issues.
“We ask for a much stronger focus on science and sharing science, because adaptation and dealing with climate risks also is a problem of climate change and health, and requires knowledge, science, education,” he said.
Von Braun urged a fundamental reform of the COP processes, emphasizing the need for more action-oriented communities, inclusiveness of affected individuals, and the formation of coalitions of the willing.
He called for governance reforms to accelerate climate policy transformation, stating that the current consensus-building approach among 200-plus countries hampers progress and delays essential action.
