COP28 Delegates’ Reflections

COP28 in Dubai, the UAE, marked a historic milestone, boasting the highest attendance in COP history. It was a whirlwind of energy, with a record-breaking 85,000 participants, including heads of state, representatives from national delegations, civil society, business, Indigenous Peoples, youth and international organizations such as Care About Climate, an international non-profit organization that granted me the privilege of participating as a delegate.

Notably, COP28 concluded the inaugural Global Stocktake (GST) of worldwide efforts under the Paris Agreement. The Global Stocktake (GST) was eye-opening; it laid bare the truth – we're not progressing fast enough – revealing insufficient progress stemming from countries lack of ambition and implementation of commitments. This led to a decisive call for accelerated action in areas like emissions reduction, climate resilience, and renewable energy adoption by 2030, emphasizing the urgent "transition from" fossil fuels.

Transition…The buzzword of COP28 was "transition." Transition is not a problematic word in itself, but it is increasingly becoming a threat to ambitious climate action as countries leverage the word to stall action for climate mitigation, especially the non-proliferation of fossil fuels which is a leading contributor to global climate change. The consistent use of watered-down language from steering towards "phase-out" to "phase-down" and now "transition from" in discussions around fossil fuels strongly feels like a subtle dilution of the urgency we need in tackling the fossil fuel crisis. All of this simply means world leaders are backtracking on the urgency of climate action which although is unfortunate, I do not find surprising given the “fossil-rich” profiles of COP Presidents in the recent time.

The "beginning of the end" of the fossil fuel era, as they put it, seemed like a compromise on the part of political leaders of oil-rich global south countries. Little wonder I had cautious optimism with the speed of commitments to loss and damage finance at the start of the conference.

Amidst these challenges of negotiations, the steadfastness of young climate advocates and negotiators emerged as a beacon of hope. I was impressed by the tireless action of young climate advocates and negotiators who worked tirelessly to remind world leaders of the need to ramp up real-world, realistic and achievable climate solutions as well as the critical importance of enhancing global efforts to strengthen resilience while amplify the voices of the most affected communities and upholding the tenets of climate justice. Young delegates engaged in side events, lobbied with negotiators, and worked towards fostering a sense of urgency among world leaders. It was truly commendable.

Looking ahead to COP29, I hope it's a game-changer. I hope that COP 29 births accelerated actions which reverse the retrogression that COP has faced in the last few years so that we can ensure a world where every human being can adapt to the changing climate, while also equipping everyone with the right knowledge, skills and tools to stem the tide of the climate crisis. Education and public participation stand out as essential tools to empower individuals to influence change and hold global leaders accountable.

Additionally, preserving a thriving civil society space is crucial, given its current global contraction with the arrest of climate activists. Climate activists being arrested for speaking out is a stark reminder of the hurdles we face. To truly combat the climate crisis, we also need less greenwashing and more active participation, cooperation and collaboration with the private sector. As we settle back to local actions in our countries ahead of COP 29, let us strive for a world where climate solutions are not just buzzwords but tangible, impactful actions and where we all work together – public, private, and everything in between.

My expectations and hopes for COP28 were quite mixed in the end. I keep an open mind when it comes to global conferences in different cities and that includes holding certain expectations to myself and rather seeing things work out the way they do. As it was held in UAE, I was expecting to see many people from Asian regions but also, in general, from all parts of the world, and this was the first time I had seen such diversity at such an expansive capacity. I had hoped to have met and connected with more people; got to know them beyond their work and role. I wanted to meet people and understand where they are from, their story and how we could connect long-term. Unfortunately, I did not meet this goal due to my limited time at COP and the general size of the venue which left me prioritizing work that I personally needed to accomplish. From the people I did connect with, they were young activists who had come with a similar adventurous spirit and yearning to change. It was inspiring to see and hear their Stories.

Meeting my colleagues from CAC was a comforting and freeing experience. Getting to know each other in person, from different countries, understanding how we are more interconnected than we thought was a refreshing experience. We reflected together and grew together.

With the events I was a part of, while intimidating in their own right, I was excited to be in different spaces talking on panels with people from different corners of the world. I enjoy engaging with people in crowds, brainstorming and discussing their views on how to develop as a human race towards climate adaptation and climate justice as these views come from different upbringings and perspectives. With regards to events, panels and workshops I attended, it was great to see such diversity in the ways people think. I go into ‘quiet-mode’ because I actively try to listen to what people are saying and respect that space to speak freely. Within workshops, I learnt that people enjoy breaking the ice in climate spaces as we have a responsibility to be louder and it was fulfilling to discover that there are people similar to me in that sense.

This COP claims to be called historic, and that word has been chasing my thoughts since I came back home from Dubai. In this sense, the first thing that came to my mind is that we, as youth, should stay watchful every time we hear such a strong word.
I would like to begin my report by quoting my favorite philosopher, Walter Benjamin. Benjamin

was a jew philosopher from Germany who faced fascism in the 19430s and 1940s, until he passed away while he was trying to run away from the nazis. The reason why he is my favorite author is because of his conscientious, compassive and social justice-driven concept of history, reflected mostly in his Thesis on the Concept of History.

The true picture of the past flits by. The past can be seized only as an image which flashes up at the instant when it can be recognized and is never seen again. Every image of the past that is not recognized by the present as one of its own concerns threatens to disappear irretrievably.

To articulate the past historically does not mean to recognize it ‘the way it really was’. It means to seize hold of a memory as it flashes up at a moment of danger. Only that historian will have the gift of fanning the spark of hope in the past who is firmlyconvinced that even the dead will not be safe from the enemy if he wins. And this enemy has not ceased to be victorious.

COP28 may go down in history as the pivotal moment when fossil fuels were (finally) officially integrated into the language of the UNFCCC processes. We were told that we were supposed to be celebrating this tremendous achievement, and I will not argue to the contrary. However, we youth climate activists worldwide, have a mission that is usually not explicit but fundamental, and that is to always be skeptical. It is our job to try to see the true picture of history in every moment of danger, as Walter Benjamin states. Otherwise, we might lose the real protagonists of history on our way, that is, people who were systematically left behind over 28 years of negotiations.

If my intention with this report were to make a list of its greatest milestones of COP28, then would say that Parties finally agreed on transitioning away from fossil fuels, aiming to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. I would also say that Parties concurred on triple renewable energy capacities and double energy efficiency improvements by 2030. About the loss and damage agenda, I would probably mention that Parties made a huge step in operationalizing the Loss & Damage Fund, in which various Parties from Global North had already committed funds. If my intention were even to make another list, but for COP28 failures in terms of negotiations,

then I would mention that after two years of intense work on the Glasgow-Sharm El-Sheikh Work Programme on the Global Goal on Adaptation, Parties were unsuccessful in reaching an agreement on a Global Framework, which was intended to be the outcome of this COP in that particular agenda. I would also say that the above mentioned Loss & Damage Fund is far away from reaching the amount needed to actually cover the climate disasters provoked mainly by Northern countries. I would even say that the language “transition away” from fossil fuels, is far from ambitious when it comes to not surpassing the 1.5°C goal settled in the Paris Agreement.

But that is not my intention for this report. Following Benjamin, I aim to catch history in the moment of danger, to see it before it vanishes. I even want to write in the name of those who have already died trying to defend our people and our planet, and who cannot speak anymore because their voices were stolen along with their lives.

What I actually aim with this report is to contra-write history. COP28 will be called historical by those who hold the power, but it also represents another chapter on a historical path made by activists and true negotiators in order to achieve social and climate justice. In order to write history as Benjamin would, I will list what I think are the true flash pictures of COP28.

The true picture of COP28 was Niue’s Minister of Natural Resources, Mona Ainuu, breaking in tears after learning the news that the Global Stocktake had been agreed behind AOSIS’ back, reaching a result that represents a death sentence for small islands that are sinking until they are gone.
The true picture of COP28 was the series of demonstrations made by young climate activists outside the negotiation rooms to push for a fossil fuel phase out. History will not remember their names, but I will remember their consistency and commitment to keeping the 1.5 alive”.

The true picture of COP28 was that negotiator I approached after the negotiations on the Global Framework on Adaptation, and his disappointment when seeing how two years of work led to no agreements, failing their own people at home who are facing climate disasters every day.

The true picture of COP28 was the massive protests to support Palestine, recognizing that there is no climate justice without social justice, and recognizing that the situation in Palestine is also a climate issue. The true picture of COP28 was that brave —and quite small— group of people that raised their voice for the first time, going against the UNFCCC protocol and taking the risk of being banned for attending other climate events again, because the moral mandate for justice was on top of any other personal priority.
The true picture of COP28 are all the human rights and environment defenders in the frontlines who cannot speak today, because they were murdered for raising their voice. The true picture of COP28 are these brave people, mostly from indigenous communities in Latin America, that gave their lives to defend Mother Nature. History will also forget their names, but it is our responsibility to keep them with us.
This COP claims to be historic. But, from whose perspective? The true picture of COP28 was the youth as a shelter of hope, and those who we already lost as our flag to be raised.

When I first arrived at the Expo City on the 8th of December, I was filled with nervous excitement and confusion. As a youth climate activist attending my first COP, my expectations were high, in terms of negotiation outcomes and following some crucial themes. The Global Stocktake, Loss and Damage Facility, and Green Jobs were my main themes of focus including networking and speaking engagements. With such a buzzing atmosphere, I wondered if I would be able to make an impact as just one young person among thousands of delegates and observers.

Walking into the COP venue for the first time seemed overwhelming, but with the prior information sessions I had attended, the pavilion maps, and the event personnels, I was able to find my way to events, easily despite people everywhere, rushing around purposefully in every direction.

Having listened to some opening speeches, and hearing from inspiring figures within the UNFCCC before my arrival, I felt hopeful that meaningful action could arise from this critical conference - COP28 in Dubai.

Over the week, I did my best to take full advantage of every opportunity COP presented. I attended fascinating panels and workshops about topics on Loss and Damage, and The Global Stocktake, Adaptation and agroforestry.

In between sessions, I made connections with youth activists from around the world, sharing stories and strategies for driving climate action back home and the incredible work done by young people at Care About Climate in respect to our NDCs Equity Tracker, International Climate and Advocacy Course, CAC clubs and other programs.

Interestingly, 5 people I had met happen to be beneficiaries of CAC’s International Climate and Advocacy Course, who shared how helpful the course has been in helping them to navigate the intricacies of climate conferences at both regional and international levels.

While some progress was made, the pace and scale of agreements did at times leave me worried. As an activist from an impacted country, having been a victim of climate change impacts, the outcomes did not meet my expectations. With such clear science - we must move farther and faster.

Also, having access to my country’s lead negotiators helped me recognize the complexity of some of these issues. COP28 is well participated, I'm taking back critical lessons that will allow me to advocate even more effectively and to advance CAC’s mission.

As COP came to a close, I felt inspired by what I had experienced - meeting CAC members and witnessing firsthand the passion, urgency, and commitment to seek climate solutions was incredible. I made new friends that I know will last for years. On some occasions, I got the opportunity to speak on panels, sharing CAC’s work and potential. Most importantly, participating in this historic global forum has energized and focused me to keep fighting for our shared future. I am more grateful and ready than ever to do my part.

It is hard to explain what going to COP means to someone who has never been there. COP means walking kilometers inside a giant venue, standing in line for hours, not being allowed into negotiation rooms, forgetting to eat, barely sleeping, and doing it again the next day. It’s a physically and mentally exhausting space, yet there is no other place a climate activist would rather be at that time of the year. And that’s because COP also means joining thousands of people coming together to fight for what they believe in, meeting inspiring people from every corner of the planet, making friends out of strangers over a common mission, witnessing history being made, and learning how to navigate this complex diplomatic space to have an impact.

My expectations for COP28 were quite high, given that 2023 was the warmest year on record, confirming the urgency of taking immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as the gap to limit the global temperature to 1.5°C shrinks. I wanted to see a real breakthrough at COP28, particularly in two aspects: the phase-out of fossil fuels and the operationalization of the loss and damage fund. Unfortunately, although there were positive steps in the right direction, the final agreement of COP28 was not ambitious enough, and I remained disappointed by the lack of significant commitments to phase out fossil fuels, as the current text has several flaws that will slow down concrete action, allowing fossil fuel companies to keep extracting and burning fossil fuels without a specific phase-out timeline.

I was also surprised by the way the youth climate movement has evolved in the last COPs, complicit to the fact that the last two COPs took place in authoritarian countries, where freedom of expression and protest are not granted. The difference between COP28 and COP26 in Glasgow, where thousands of activists took to the street demanding more ambitious climate action, was staggering. The protests in Glasgow were an incredibly powerful show of solidarity and proved to world leaders that thousands were looking at their actions and holding them accountable for blunt climate commitments. Since this couldn't be replicated in Dubai, the youth climate movement has been forced to evolve and find new ways to fight for climate justice and demand bolder commitments. Although I missed that atmosphere, I loved seeing the resilience and adaptability of young people, who organized demonstrations and held hands in line in front of negotiation rooms to keep the pressure on world leaders.

During this COP, I learned a lot more about climate diplomatic processes, and I attended many negotiations on the Global Stocktake increasing my knowledge of NDCs. I also had the opportunity to follow the conversation on climate change and gender and hear the powerful interventions of Indigenous youths at the negotiations, where they described their experience with climate change and outlined proposals to tackle the climate crisis. I was able to interact with some of these inspiring women and Indigenous activists, gaining interesting insights into the work they are doing and the climate solutions they adopted in their countries. Participating in COP28 was incredibly enriching also because I had the chance to meet for the first time the incredible activists behind Care About Climate, who shared their precious knowledge during speaking engagements and advocated for bolder climate action. I wish I had the chance to spend more time getting to know these amazing people, but I cherish every moment we shared, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to navigate COP with them – having someone to rely on in such a complex, chaotic space truly makes a difference. I look forward to continuing working with them to advance CAC’s mission and hope our paths will cross again at the next climate conference.

Leaving for COP28 in November 2023, I had the objective of mainstreaming food systems into COP28 conversations, amplifying the voices and innovative actions led by frontline communities to keep the hope of 1.5 alive, and co-creating side events that empowers and better positions other attendees for impact and thoughtful leaderships, particularly in the food-climate nexus space. While I was able to achieve these objectives and most importantly, learn from other COP attendees and made new friends, the failure to deliver ambitious commitments aligned with frameworks and means (finance) of implementation, and prioritizing the planet over personal and/or cooperate gains lingers doubt in the minds of the hopeful. Although the just concluded Dubai COP has been alluded “historic”, a comparison of “the expected” versus “the delivered” has shown nothing but indications of little regard to the urgent needs to align sustainable solutions with the cascading impacts of climate change, exemplified by the under listed outcomes :

1. Loss and Damage: Slightly above 700 million dollars was raised in support of loss and damage, whereas Pakistan alone incurred a total of USD 30 billion in loss and damage in 2022 because of climate-induced flood. Not to mention that around USD 400 billion per year is estimated to be needed for loss and damage. This was not the “operationalisation” we were hoping for, yet many alluded it as “game-changer”!

2. Weak language on fossil fuels phaseout: From Phase-down to “Transition Away” from fossil fuels. To start with, it is important to emphasise that “transitioning away from fossil fuels” as used only referred to energy systems, not the expansion of oil & gas in sectors like the petrochemical sectors (inclusive of plastics, fertilizers....). Also, there were no indications of measures to monitor and evaluate progress in the short or medium term to show if, or the scale at which countries are transitioning. Barely over a month after the “historic” COP, Norway had awarded 62 new oil licenses, accounting for the largest distribution in four years. Is this what it means to “transition away” from something?

3. Global Goal on Adaptation: The framework for its implementation was not defined yet an additional 2 years was added to the 2 years already spent on diverse consultation for the goal. This is an indication of the many frontline communities whose lives and livelihoods are currently

ravaged by the backdrops of climate change.
4. Food Systems at COP – The Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action: While this declaration is a welcome development, and an indication of a win to see 150 countries signed on to it, the affirmation of win will be evident when we see it reflected in countries updated NDCs, especially with about 70% of countries NDCs currently lacking a clear pathway for food systems transformation. Also, this will depend on whether or not the declaration is aligned with the means of implementation (finance) at the substantial scale of need. As rightly put by Ani Dasgupta, “In the end, the Declaration’s success will be determined by whether countries follow through on these commitments with substantial policy reforms”. Also, the final text of the GST acknowledged the role of resilient food systems within adaptation, but it failed to recognize its role in mitigation. This is a missed opportunity.

5. Goal to End Deforestation by 2030: While the pledge to end deforestation by 2030 was renewed as stressed in the global stocktake at COP28, the finance gap necessary to keep the forests standing remains as wide as it can get. Also, agriculture is a major driver of deforestation, yet the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action failed to mention the role of agriculture in driving the loss of over 90% of tropical forests globally. Also to mention that a 2020 report puts the finance gap at USD 700 billion. We have a long way to go.
Overall, COP28 ended with lots of promises and pledges that were not backed with the frameworks and means (finance) of implementation just like in previous COPs. As civil society organisations, it’s time we re-evaluated our approach and ask ourselves the important questions. After 28 years of bringing tens of thousands of multi stakeholders together, 2 important questions that I believe we should be asking ourselves as civil society groups is.

Are we settling for too little or are we just distracted? We tend to be quick to celebrate mere inclusion of text(s) in official COP outcomes and pledges even when not backed with theframework and means of implementation. In the previous UNFCCC COPs, were there no pledges made, and new words included in the official text/outcome, where are we with the implementation? Have they been delivered on? However, as we move ahead from a COP that has like no other, shifted the responsibilities of addressing climate change back to the victims, I am energized and keeping alive the hope of 1.5 by the new friends and partners made while in Dubai, many of whom we will work together and leverage our connectedness and shared vision to better position our communities for resilience and climate leadership.

COPs, generally, tend to be a politically-driven congregation of world leaders, diplomats, negotiators and civil society coming together to be on the path to build a better world. Our role as young people, centres around ensuring that intergenerational justice holds importance in climate discussions and negotiations, and our voices are heard at the highest level of climate diplomacy.

A forum to enable participation from multi-level stakeholders and form just policies, COP 28 continued the ‘legacy’ of slow climate action and insufficient progress, failing to ensure climate justice across global south nations.

This was my second COP, and also the most tiring one. Although COP is a platform which generally gives us access to conversations and exposure beyond the borders, the vast distances at the venue between pavilions was detrimental to form meaningful connections at the conference. It was an interesting segue from the past COP, considering I was aware of the format of the conference and hence, lesser confusion about the basic hereabouts.

With hopes to meet local mobilizers from across the world, I envisioned COP28 to be an opportunity wherein I gain global perspectives from people who are engaged on the ground, and I was given quite a few opportunities to do the same.

In terms of opportunities for myself, I was privileged to be a part of a roundtable discussion with fellow climate advocates from all over the world in the presence of Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations at World Bank. As a Global Youth Climate Ambassador, I also got the opportunity to be interviewed by Anna and share my perspectives on youth inclusion at COPs.

Youth Day was the busiest day for everyone, including myself. My day started as a speaker at a UN Official Side Event focussed on vegan cities and regenerative farming, wherein being the only young person in the panel, I shared my perspectives as a vegan since past 4 years. I then proceeded to the Indian Pavilion, wherein a National Youth Statement was launched in collaboration with LCOY India, a small but significant win for Indian youth. The day ended with another UN Official Side Event representing Care About Climate to share insights of our NDC Equity Tracker alongside Hailey as the moderator.

I also got the opportunity to meet the Indian Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with my fellow Indian youth delegates. As unfortunate it is, it was a quite a disappointing meeting which was indicative of youth tokenism and levels of diplomacy which makes even direct conversations to Indian diplomats less receptive.

Having said that, among my major responsibilities at COP as a CAC delegate, was to document interviews, content, participation of our delegates and ensure regular updates of the conference goes out. Running around the venue to ensure that we have the right coverage and clips of our delegates, ensuring that ICPAC video comes out well and getting the upcoming CAC professional video snippets finalised, ensured that my vision of how CAC is covered at COP comes to fruition.

Amidst the disappointments faced by young people, the only moment of solidarity was amongst friends who stood together to offer support, with the aim to make our voices heard however the circumstances. And the reason why I could survive two weeks of the circus that COP is, are my friends from Care About Climate, as well as the Indian delegation. It is such a privilege to work with the most passionate people throughout the year and meet at a common place like COPs to laugh together, share meals and strengthen our beautiful friendships.

COP28 was a bizarre experience. From the very beginning, we understood that this conference was going to be the tricky based on the petrol nation that was hosting it. Even then, I had faith that the conference was going to keep its focus on the climate crisis and the needs for more ambitious climate action. I wasn’t as right as I had hoped. When news broke out that the UAE presidency was taking advantage of their position as hosts by taking meetings on oil & gas business, I realized how mistaken the decision was to have the conference in that country. A country that made it obvious they were putting their interests first. These news essentially marked the tone of what was going to be COP28 hosted by a petrostate.

As part of a youth delegation, faith is super important going into these conferences. Although I was traveling with the CAC team, I felt intimidated as a young woman traveling to the UAE. At the conference, the lines were long and the heat was uncomfortable. Accessing the conference venue was challenging as the logistics throughout the week were constantly changing. There was also a note of nepotism in that certain groups were able to access the venue with more ease than others. Inside the conference venue, there were spaces inaccessible to the public as well as transportation in order to navigate the conference venue comfortably. The venue was grandiose and often time difficult to navigate with constantly closed paths and inaccessible spaces. The General Assembly halls were also smaller than usual and other rooms had security at the doors making it obvious that a lot of spaces were not open to everyone. Fortunately, there were some opportunities to access these close door spaces, but even those were extremely limited and not available to all young people or members of civil society.

At this COP I was heavily invested in the negotiations on the GST dialogue. My focus being the NDCS, I wanted to learn about the protocols in these negotiations, but also the reality of the way in which these agreements are written. Needless to say, these are not the most inclusive spaces either. Along with other youth activists, we worked long hours to make sure our interests as youth were known and represented in these dialogues. We canvassed outside these rooms for the opportunity to speak to negotiators and we followed the negotiations to understand what the priorities were for the member states present. We were exhausted, but hopeful and every day we made sure to keep our focus and not give up on our demands for a more inclusive climate future. Outside the negotiation rooms, I was fortunate enough to make interventions on the importance of gender action plans and providing climate finance for youth-led projects dedicated to ambitious and equitable climate action. I also had the opportunity to present on the NDC Project and our equitable tracker, which highlights youth perspectives on NDCs.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend COP28 and engage in the negotiations critical for the future of our planet. Although the atmosphere was disappointing at the conference, every year it’s more obvious how much work we still have to do for youth and gender. I’ve learned that some countries are not above using our communities as bargaining chips in these negotiations, thus we need to keep pushing for better representation in these spaces and more equitable practices in the climate space.

COP28 was a story of grit, loss, and strength. On the final night of negotiations, I joined activists and allies in solidarity with island states as they met with the UAE Presidency. When fearless island leaders exited the room at 3am, they were swarmed by the media. You didn't need to hear their words to feel the overwhelming sense of pain in the air and in their hearts. We stayed up through the night organizing our final push for climate justice. We gathered every activist and observer still in Dubai to host an action within the UN calling for a fair, feminist, and funded phase-out of fossil fuels. We held the line in front of the negotiation rooms to remind them what's at stake. We did everything we could.

Then, the COP28 gavel came down faster than it ever has in history. With a single breath and without islands in the plenary room, the COP28 President adopted a decision on the Global Stocktake that does not keep the Paris Agreement 1.5 degree C goal within reach. COP28 was a lesson in resilience and the importance of community. As young people, we did not clap. I remember thinking, I cannot clap for a decision that will cause avoidable loss to my Hawai'i community or to my peers?
Much like the meager five wind turbines we saw near the exhibition hall, the UAE Presidency was nothing more than a performance. To those not in the rooms, one could easily conclude that the UAE Presidency did their best to find consensus - we were not fooled. This COP was not a consensus, it was a compromise that failed to consider the needs of islands, young people, and the most vulnerable. I left defeated. But, I also left with a new sense of motivation driven by the community of young leaders fighting for our future together.

Among the chaos, I found community. While at COP28, I was privileged to meet with leaders and share youth demands for climate justice from the Local Conference of Youth USA, like Ambassador at-Large Geeta Rao Gupta, U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry, Chair of the Council of Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory, and Administrator of NOAA Dr. Rick Spinrad. I shared calls for an equitable fossil fuel phase-out at press conferences and side events. From joining a women's empowerment circle at the Expo City Pavilion and singing karaoke at the SDG pavilion to 10pm trips to the pool with my team, the sense of community at COP28 fueled me.

As I reflect on COP28 and my future in this fight, I am filled with mixed emotions. Grief and joy in community. Frustration and pride for what we accomplished. Pain and motivation to use this outcome to drive for a stronger decision at future COPs and throughout work at Care About Climate.

Cheers to 2023 - the hottest year on record. May 2024 bring us the climate justice we deserve.

The COP28 was my first time attending the conference, and the virtual badge gave me an idea of the dimension of the Conference and the amount, structure and dynamics of the events that happen during the two weeks, being a great exercise for a future in-person attendance. In my opinion, there was a great range of events live-streaming, which provided the opportunity to virtually navigate in different spaces/venues and join events from different topics. The mainly of the streaming events were side events that happened with the participation of speakers and perspectives from different backgrounds, e.g. NGO’s, governments, private sector, local communities, research and academic institutions and partnerships. There were a few problems on the app and the platform, especially during the first three days of the Conference, which also happened to other virtual participants. I contacted the support explaining the situation (none of the activities available at the app were working and there was a problem with the stream at the platform and app). The same app was used for SB58 and LACCW, and during both of these conferences the app worked greatly, without any problem, so I believe it probably was some update or specificity of the configurations. In any case, the problems were later solved and it didn’t interfere in the amazing and enriching experience that is attending the Conference of the Parties.

My expectations for this COP were mainly about the GST outcomes, especially regarding the fossil fuel phase-out and just transition, youth participation and climate finance. My focus while attending virtually were about the commitments, policies and actions that involved Brazil, Latin America and the Global South, as well as youth participation, empowerment and training. Iwas pleased to attend several events about climate finance, especially from a Global South point of view, as well as events that had just, fair and funded transition as topics, NDC discussions and events with inclusive participation and perspectives, with youth, women and indigenous people as speakers.

Although the virtual badge does not offer the same engagement opportunities as attendingin-person, it allowed me to join COP events and to contribute to the Policy Debriefs, which wasa chance to engage with volunteers from Care About Climate and ClimaTalk that were attendingCOP28 in-person or as observers at home, sharing with them events, news, documents, comments and feedbacks about the Conference and the negotiations.

During the two weeks, we were able to discuss The Global Stocktake, Loss and Damage, Just Transition & Equitable Fossil Fuel Phase Out, Youth, ACE, Mitigation and Adaptation. The topics were divided in groups in order to produce and organize more deep content for the socialmedia posts. At the end of COP 28, we produced 6 Policy Debriefs in partnership with ClimaTalk about the mentioned subjects. The virtual badge was the main reason why I was ableto help gather the content for the debriefs. By attending virtually, I was capable of better understanding the negotiations topics, discussions and documents released, as well as what information to look at and what was the most relevant and updated data in the moment to add to the debrief.

I feel grateful and privileged to have joined the most important international climate conference, especially understanding how difficult the accreditation and funding is, and how crucial it is the youth attendance and engagement in these spaces. I believe that the virtual badge is an amazing opportunity to democratize the access to the Conference of the Parties and to integrate more youth in the process, in order to really achieve intergenerational justice, since the virtual attendance is a tool itself that is capable of providing youth empowerment through the simple fact that it allows access to the space. I truly appreciated and enjoyed experiencing what it is like to be in this space and join the Conference, and to learn and advance my climate knowledge to improve my contributions to Care About Climate through advocacy and capacity building training.

Mujidah Ajibola

Zayna Zubair

Dolores Bas

Azure Matthew

Alice Finno

Opeyemi Elujulo

Muskan Lodhi

Ruth Oviedo Hollands

Ana Carolina Siqueira