Voices from Asia is a four-part podcast series by the National University of Singapore (NUS). Launched in November 2023, the episodes aim to relate discussions at the annual United Nations (UN) climate conference, COP28, to audiences in Asia.
In this episode, host Audrey Tan from the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions (CNCS) chats with Ms Melissa Low, a long-time observer of the UN climate conferences and a research fellow at CNCS, about a key event at this year’s COP – the conclusion of the global stocktake, the first since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015.
The global stocktake provides a snapshot of where the world is at when it comes to cutting emissions, adapting to climate impacts, and providing support for developing countries. It also sets out possible pathways and solutions needed for scaled up climate ambition.
Meant to be undertaken every five years, the global stocktakes will guide countries in setting more ambitious targets under the Paris Agreement. The next round of submissions is due in 2025, and this year’s outcome could set a precedent for how strongly countries reference the global stocktake in setting subsequent targets.
Ahead of COP28 in September 2023, the United Nations released a synthesis report which summarized the three technical dialogues held on the first global stocktake. The report’s conclusion echoes that of numerous other reports: that the world is off track to averting catastrophic climate change impacts.
So what differentiates this report from the others, and why does it matter for Asia? Hear from Ms Melissa Low as she breaks down the significance of the global stocktake, and the importance of COP28 negotiations in bringing the report from paper to implementation.
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