COPENHAGEN, 13 December 2023 – As the COP28 UN Climate Conference concluded its deliberations, OSCE PA Special Representative on Climate Change, Vice-President Pere Joan Pons (Spain), issued the following statement: 

“The COP28 summit in Dubai held in what is already known to be the hottest year ever recorded in human history, represented a decisive opportunity to act on climate commitments and prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

I welcome the conclusions of the COP28 UN Climate Conference for delivering a comprehensive response to the Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement and for the first time calling on all nations to transition away from fossil fuels to avert the worst effects of climate change and keep 1.5 Celsius within reach. The ambitious deal includes among other things the agreement by all parties to by 2030 reduce global emissions by 43 per cent, to triple renewable energy targets and double energy efficiency goals, as well as to establish a Global Goal on Adaptation framework, and operationalize the loss and damage fund.

While praising the efforts of the international community in reaching this robust action plan in times of great controversy and unprecedented challenge, I would like to once again emphasize that actual work starts only now. Despite the clear guidance on the next round of 2025 national climate action plans – or Nationally Determined Contributions – it is up to individual countries to deliver on the agreements swiftly and efficiently through national policies and investments.

That is where the role of parliaments with their unique functions of oversight and holding governments accountable becomes crucial. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has always been at the forefront of these efforts, including through its strong calls for action, such as the Parliamentary Plea for Resolute Climate Action issued ahead of the COP26 and forward-looking recommendations in annually adopted Declarations and Resolutions.

I call on parliamentarians worldwide to continue driving the global ambition and make sure that the new pledges are translated into tangible actions. The time to act is now.”

For more on the work of the OSCE PA Special Representative on Climate Change, please click here.