Failure is deadly: Vulnerable countries need climate action now, says the IRC ahead of COP28


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November 26, 2023 — On the eve of COP28, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) urges global leaders to take urgent climate action that supports countries affected by the dual challenges of conflict and climate change.

Far from being on the periphery of the fight against climate change, these climate-vulnerable, conflict-affected communities like Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria increasingly represent the sharp end of the climate crisis. While these communities only account for 10% of the global population and less than 3% of global carbon emissions, they also account for 60% of global humanitarian need, over 70% of internal displacement, a growing share of extreme poverty, and half of all people affected by natural disasters over the past 3 years. Despite these dire statistics, these same communities are only receiving one-third of the climate financing compared to their stable counterparts.

The IRC’s Climate Action for the Epicenter of Crisis: How COP28 Can Address the Injustices Facing Conflict-Affected Communities lays out the four core areas IRC and its staff and clients in these communities are calling for at COP:Improving risk mapping of conflict-affected communities to target action where it is most needed - with specific commitment to ensure community-level risk maps exist in all 16 climate-vulnerable, conflict-affected countries by the end of 2025;
Investing in innovation, particularly adaptation, resilience and anticipatory actioninterventionsdesigned for conflict settings - such as anticipatory action or seed security - calling on climate finance contributors to deliver 50% of all climate funding to adaptation by 2025, with a particular focus on the 16 conflict- and climate-impacted countries and to commit a minimum of 5% of humanitarian budgets to anticipatory action with a strategy for further expansion by 2030.
Adopting a “people-first” approach to delivery through meaningful non-governmental partnerships- calling on multilateral development banks and vertical climate funds to channel 20% of adaptation financing through non-governmental partners in conflict-affected countries;
Making climate finance more equitable and accessible to adequately resource action - calling on donors to fulfill the $100 billion-per-year climate pledge with “new and additional” financing, and increase the ambition for a new goal set from 2025 starting from a floor of $100 billion.

David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC:


“This year’s COP must not fail climate-vulnerable states. Negotiations in Dubai must prioritize the distinct challenges faced by conflict-affected, climate-vulnerable countriesthat have been left out of business-as-usual global climate action thus far. Devastating flooding in Pakistan and Libya, drought and the resulting impact on food security in Somalia and Afghanistan all highlight the present danger of inaction.

“But it doesn’t end there. Climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing fractures in fragile societies. The lack of support means injustices in these communities in particular are growing. The litany of warnings issued by humanitarians and climate scientists alike continue ad infinitum: 1.5 billion people could be displaced by 2050 as a result of climate shocks, food insecurity and overall humanitarian needs without sufficient investments in climate resilience. 250,000 additional deaths per year are expected due to climate-induced malnutrition, malaria, and heat stress over the next 25 years - the equivalent of 500 Boeing 747s crashing every year during that same period. Twenty years of progress toward gender equity could be reversed if the impact of climate change on women goes unaddressed.

“Behind a sea of dire statistics is a clarion call. The IRC and the people it represents are calling for a focus on the solutions within our grasp, and the clear opportunity presented by COP28 to make them a reality for millions.

“The recently-released Climate Relief, Recovery, and Peace Declaration is a critical first step, recognizing the unique effects of the climate crisis on fragile and conflict-affected communities and making important calls for scaling up more accessible climate financing, investing in innovative climate adaptation program for these settings, and ensuring women, disability, and youth-led organizations have a seat at the table. But turning this substantive declaration into tangible impact for the communities hit hardest by the climate crisis will require an action plan to go with it. Governments, banks, climate funds and the private sector should endorse the declaration and commit to specific targets on the amount of finance going to these communities, the share going to adaptation, and the accessibility of this finance for non-governmental partners.

“The bar for COP28 to be considered a success is whether it can commit to a new chapter of climate action- accountable to the least prioritized, and the most vulnerable.”

Why Cop28 is an opportunity for India to boost its energy transition

The South Asian country is aiming for 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030

Panels at Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, northern India. Currently, coal powers 70 per cent of India's electricity generation. AFP

Rebecca Bundhun
Mumbai, India
Nov 26, 2023


The Cop28 climate summit, which starts in Dubai on Thursday, is an opportunity for India to boost its efforts in transitioning to renewable energy, industry experts say.

The country’s limitations on moving away from dependence on coal will also come to the fore at the summit, given its rapidly growing energy demands.

“India’s priorities for Cop28 will revolve around building on the positive momentum gained at the recently held G20 [summit in New Delhi], including focusing on tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, developments in green hydrogen and the need of low-cost finance for energy transition,” says Gautam Mohanka, chief executive at Gautam Solar in New Delhi.

“Additionally, India will focus on accountability and more ambitious climate mitigation plans from the wealthy, developed nations.”

Industry leaders are confident about what India might be able to achieve at Cop28

“As we enter Cop28, India has the opportunity to showcase not only the progress made but also our unwavering dedication to a green and resilient future,” says green energy company Avaada Group’s chairman, Vineet Mittal, who is part of the delegation.

India has been rapidly increasing its green energy capacity – especially solar – as it recognises this as not only a way to cut emissions, but also to boost its energy security and reduce its import bill from fossil fuels.

The country is aiming for 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. As of July, India had an installed capacity of 176.49 gigawatts, according to official data.

“Realising the 2030 renewable energy target will be a milestone not to be missed if India is to stay on track for the 2070 net-zero goal,” says Anup Garg, founder and director of World of Circular Economy, a company offering sustainability solutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Cop26 in 2021 pledged India would cut its emissions to net zero by 2070, and renewables would make up half of the country’s energy mix by 2030. The US and EU have committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050, while China is targeting 2060 for the goal.

India is the fourth-largest emitter of carbon emissions after China, the US and the EU.

The Cop conference this year is seen as particularly crucial as the planet appears to be falling short in its efforts to tackle climate change. The first full global stocktake of the world’s climate targets will be delivered at Cop28.

Efforts by countries so far are insufficient to limit the world’s temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, an initial report on the summit found.


India, as the fifth-largest economy and with the world’s largest population of more than 1.4 billion people, is considered vital when it comes to global climate negotiations.

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“India’s energy demand continues to rise due to the growth in the country’s population and economy in the years ahead,” says Mr Garg.

However, because of these demands and despite pressure from developed nations, India has been resistant to setting a deadline to phase out fossil fuels such as coal.


The country relies on the highly polluting fuel to produce about 70 per cent of its electricity.

Although “India remains one of the fastest growing markets for renewable energy, it still remains largely dependent on coal to meet its growing energy needs”, Mr Mohanka says.

“While India still faces a relatively big challenge with coal dependency within its energy sector, we are quite optimistic about the efforts being made to reduce it,” says Sandiip Bhammer, founder and co-managing partner at Green Frontier Capital, a climate change-focused venture capital fund.

“The government is taking bold steps to phase out old and inefficient coal plants, promote cleaner coal technologies, and invest in carbon capture and storage research.”

The aim is “to balance energy security with environmental sustainability”, he adds. “It’s safe to say that India is committed to a sustainable, low-carbon future, prioritising renewable energy and addressing challenges to achieve this goal.”

For India to be able to lower its reliance on coal, more investment needs to be pumped into renewables and related infrastructure, analysts say.

“India has made very impressive strides in shifting to renewable energy sources, particularly in solar and wind power,” Mr Bhammer says.

“Government policies and incentives have attracted substantial investments, positioning India as a rapidly growing clean energy market globally. Nonetheless, challenges like grid integration, energy storage and intermittency issues persist, indicating the need for ongoing efforts to meet targets and strengthen the reliability of energy infrastructure.”

This will require significant investment.

“The future energy transformation with complete phase out of fossils requires substantial money, so climate finance is the most important challenge,” says Manish Dabkara, chairman and managing director of EKI Energy Services, a carbon-credit developer and supplier.

A key area of focus for India and the success of Cop28 partially falls on negotiations around financing to developing countries, experts say.

“Developed countries need to do much more in finance, technology and capacity building for developing countries,” says Pallavi Das, programme lead at Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a climate think tank.

“Without a clear definition and developed countries not meeting their older targets, the delivery of climate finance is a priority for developing India.”

In 2009, wealthier nations pledged to provide $100 billion per year by 2020 to poorer countries to assist with climate adaptation and mitigation – but they missed this target.

“Negotiators will work this year on developing a post-2025 finance goal, but continued disagreement between developing and developed nations will put the ability and willingness of developing nations to scale up climate mitigation efforts at risk,” a recent report by S&P said.

At Cop28, India plans to push developed countries to become carbon negative by 2050, rather than carbon neutral, Reuters reported last month, citing government officials. This would give emerging market economies more time to use fossil fuels to meet their development needs.

As we enter Cop28, India has the opportunity to showcase not only the progress made but also our unwavering dedication to a green and resilient future
Vineet Mittal, chairman, Avaada Group

India is also unlikely to sign a global pledge to reduce cooling-related emissions, the report said.

There is a lot India can achieve at Cop28.

E-waste recycling company Attero Recycling’s chief executive Nitin Gupta, who will be attending the summit, says he sees this year’s conference as “transitioning towards more execution, while Cop27 was more about strategising”.

“As a business, we strongly believe in a circular economy,” Mr Gupta says.

Biofuels, which are produced from renewable sources, will also receive more attention this year, following the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance at the G20 summit in September, according to Ashvin Patil, founder and director of Biofuels Junction.

“At Cop28, India's commitment to integrating biofuels into its national energy strategy is expected to play a significant role in its approach to addressing climate change and meeting its environmental commitments,” he says.

India’s youngest participant at Cop28, Prasiddhi Singh, an 11-year-old environmental activist, says the country’s task now is to “balance economic growth and environmental stewardship”. She plans to call for collective action to work towards “a sustainable future”.

Updated: November 27, 2023

Dubai climate conference ‘COP28’ this week; over 200 countries invited. Details

ByManjiri Chitre
Nov 27, 2023 01:03 PM IST

COP28 will take place from November 28 to December 12 in Dubai under the presidency of the UAE.

After a year full of devastating extreme and record-shattering weather conditions across the globe, world leaders are set to gather for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties (COP28) this week on a mission to curb climate change. The COP28 will take place from November 28 to December 12 under the presidency of the UAE.

The COP28 summit is being hosted by the UAE. (CREDIT: Reuters)

What is COP28 and why is it important?

COP28 is the 28th annual United Nations climate meeting where leaders across the world meet and discuss ways and measures to limit and prepare for climate change. The ‘COP’ stands for ‘Conference of Parties’ - referring to those parties who signed up to the original UN climate agreement in 1992. The conferences are of significant importance as they are intended for the governments to agree on policies to limit global temperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change.

Read more: Cause and Effect | At COP28, world leaders are at a crossroads

Notably, the 21st session of the COP (COP21) led to the Paris Agreement, which mobilised global collective action to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by 2100 and to act to adapt to the already existing effects of climate change.


COP28 in UAE is a controversial subject

The UAE is one of the top 10 oil-producing nations in the world. Oil, being a fossil fuel, becomes one of the main causes of climate change because it releases planet-warming greenhouse gases during its production. The UAE is also one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, due to its very hot and humid climate. Without a reduction in emissions, wet-bulb temperatures in the region are expected to cross 35°C (95°F) for a prolonged period of time by the 2070s.

Read more: What do top emitters want from the global stocktake at Cop28?

However, the UAE has been making efforts to reduce emissions in different ways across several sectors of its economy including - promoting organic and hydroponic agriculture, building the Etihad Rail, and reducing waste. The Middle Eastern country has also pledged to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. It was also the first country in the region to sign the Paris Agreement.

What will be discussed during the conference?

According to reports, this year's COP28 is expected to stress on the importance of collective action to stop climate change and the critical role of finance in the low-carbon transition. It is also likely to focus on delivering money for climate action from richer to poorer countries.

Who is invited to COP28?

Delegates from nearly 200 countries - over 70,000 people - are expected to attend the conference this week, in what could be the largest United Nations climate summit ever. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be traveling to Dubai from November 30 to December 1 to attend the World Climate Action Summit - the high-level segment of COP28. Other leaders including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Pope Francis have also confirmed their attendance. However, US President Joe Biden will not be attending.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, speaks at the opening ceremony of Pre-Cop28 in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National