Resources for the Future at COP28

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will host its 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) November 30–December 12, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. RFF will host a series of engagements at COP28, bringing our experts together with leading global voices to explore the policies, innovations, and market forces needed to meet the climate crisis.

We’ll be hosting side events on the climate/trade nexus (December 6 at the Trade House Pavilion) and on the global stocktake (December 9 at the IETA Business Hub). Given the time change, events will not be livestreamed, but recordings of the public events will be made available after COP28 concludes. Please check this page regularly for additional details—we look forward to sharing more specifics soon!

Read more below about our research informing our key areas of engagement at COP28. For more information about RFF’s plans in the lead up to COP28, please contact Kristin Hayes at [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact Annie McDarris at [email protected] or 202-328-5114.

Border Carbon Fees: Trade, Economic Development, and Global Emissions

Driven by national climate goals to decarbonize the industrial sector, nations face a new reality where border carbon adjustments (BCAs) and similar national GHG border fees on imported goods are an evolving feature of global climate policy. The European Union Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is in effect, and legislative discussions in Taiwan, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Brazil, and the United States are enriching these policy discussions.

These policy discussions explore various GHG border fee design elements regarding: included products and gases; approaches to carbon/GHG accounting; treatment of developing countries; international alliances or clubs; pricing or fee assignment metrics; self-reporting vs. government emissions data; WTO alignment; and other elements. These policies could have spillover impacts on global trade, the welfare of developing countries, and global emissions.

This session will explore these elements across the current BCA and border fee discussions, and evaluate the likely implications of policy design decisions.

Speakers:

• Jos Delbeke, European University Institute
• Frank Jotzo, Australian National University/Australian Carbon Leakage Review
• James Mwangi, Climate Action Platform for Africa
• Pedro Rochedo, University of Rio de Janeiro
• Lauren Stowe, Silverado Policy Accelerator
• Milan Elkerbout, Resources for the Future (Moderator)

Taking Stock of the Stocktake: What Comes Next?

The global stocktake, which is set to conclude at COP28, offers a chance for nations to reflect on progress made (or not made) toward Paris Agreement pledges. It also provides an updated assessment on the world’s chances of limiting warming to well below 2°C. 

Since the United States is a major emitter and plays a large role in the world economy, the nation’s progress toward its own climate commitments will have major repercussions for the international community. How could the findings of the global stocktake, along with other emerging international actions, affect future US climate policy? And how might US climate policy in turn affect future international actions?

This session engages two members of the US Congress along with experts on international climate negotiations to explore the United States’ progress, its future climate action, and its relationship with the global community. 

Speakers:

• Rep. Andrew Garbarino, US House of Representatives (R-NY)
• Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, US House of Representatives (D-PA)
• Richard G. Newell, Resources for the Future
• Jonathan Pershing, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
• Lola Vallejo, Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations

The world is facing a poly-crisis including climate urgency, energy security, and economic recovery, yet the implementation of climate goals has seen gaps to match the ambition of the 1.5 °C goal. As a driver to synergize climate mitigation, energy transition, and economic growth, renewable energy has been developed rapidly in many countries and its investment is widening the gap over fossil fuels. However, the increasing trade disputes, as well as the rhetoric of de-globalization and de-risking, have posed barriers to the investment in and the trade of green products, such as solar panels and EVs. Accelerating the deployment of renewables in the world requires not only tapping the domestic markets, but also strengthening global cooperation through overseas investment.

As it will mark the conclusion of the first global stocktake and identify the world’s progress against our climate goals, COP28 will be a decisive moment for international climate action. Taking this opportunity, supported by the Special Policy Study of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), this meeting invites CCICED members, special advisors, and world experts in energy and climate to discuss topics centered on how to bridge the gap in implementation through deploying renewable energy and fostering a resilient green supply chain.

Watch Live on Zoom

Speakers:

• Wang Yi, CCICED, Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and the National Committee of Experts on Climate Change (Moderator)
• Laurence Tubiana, CCICED and the European Climate Foundation
• Erik Solheim, CCICED and the World Resources Institute
• Levin Zhu, Tsinghua University
• Lord Nicholas Stern, Grantham Research Institute of LSE
• Zou Ji, CCICED and Energy Foundation China
• Scott Vaughan, CCICED
• Erik Berglöf, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
• Ana Toni, The Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
• Kelly Gallagher, Tufts University
• Ju Jiandong, Tsinghua University
• Billy Pizer, Resources for the Future
• Richard Baron, European Climate Foundation

The need for transformative leadership in addressing climate action has never been more urgent. The global stocktake is the inflection point for energy transition: the increasing global energy needs must be met, while reducing emissions urgently simultaneously. Businesses today have an imperative to develop pathways that not only lead to a low carbon economy, but also ensure a just transition that meets the needs of the most impacted by the transition. Amidst this evolving role of private sector, how can businesses join forces to drive meaningful change? Why and how are partnerships important to tackle the urgency and scale required to address climate change?

This panel discussion, hosted by Baker Hughes, sheds light on some of the best practices and examples of collaborative partnerships across different sectors and organizations to drive impact and progress towards achieve climate change. The session will highlight the importance of partnerships and collaboration for meeting the urgency of climate change, and delivering scalable solutions that benefit all.

Speakers:

• Alessandro Bresciani, SVP Climate Technology Solutions, Baker Hughes
• Meg Gentle, HIF Global
• Mansour Belhadj, GM Energy & Resources at Microsoft
• Richard G. Newell, Resources for the Future
• Allyson Anderson Book, Baker Hughes (Moderator)

The climate ambitions of multinational enterprises will impact the environmental performance of countries around the world. As leading actors, proactive enterprises can impose sustainability standards or encourage green technology transfers that, in some cases, could affect millions of producers and accelerate the climate transition. How to promote enterprises to play a leading role in technological innovation, how to actively confront obstacles to low-carbon technologies and industries, and how to accelerate rapid low-carbon technology globalization in a complex geopolitical environment have become urgent issues to be solved.

Energy Foundation China, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and China Entrepreneurs Forum plan to hold the COP28 Entrepreneur Initiative on December 9, 2023, in Dubai. The event aims to provide a cross-border platform for Chinese and international enterprises, academic institutions, and relevant decision-makers to discuss the concept of green development, promote green technology innovation and green transition in enterprises’ climate change mitigation strategies, and promote international cooperation for innovative development.

Watch Live on Zoom

Speakers:

• Han Wei, Energy Foundation China (Moderator)
• Zou Ji, Energy Foundation China
• Levin Zhu, Tsinghua University
• Fu Chengyu, formerly China Petroleum and Chemical Corp
• Richard Newell, Resources for the Future
• Jin Zhijun, Chinese Academy of Science and PKU Institute of Energy
• Dong Benhong, Alibaba
• Meng Li, Didi Development Research Institute
• Niu Zhijing, Cainiao Group
• Laurent Arribe, Bay Area Council
• Xiaomei Lee,Gensler Greater China
• Matthew Anthony, AECOM
• Xu Jintao, Peking University

The following leaders and experts will be present at COP28. For media inquiries before, during, or after the event, please contact Annie McDarris at [email protected] or 202-328-5114.