The two-day PRECOP 28 conference will be a preparatory event preceding the United Arab Emirates Climate Summit (the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference – COP28), i.e. the Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – the world’s largest forum for common climate change policy.
This is the second edition of PRECOP, which – being a regular event – aims to develop, through open discussion, a common position of different communities on the most important topics discussed at the annual Climate Summits.
At PRECOP 27 (the first edition of the annual climate conference), more than 20 debates, discussions and side events were attended by 1,200 participants, including senior representatives of UN and EU agencies, ambassadors and politicians, as well as former COP presidents.
The outcome of the PRECOP 27 deliberations was a ‘white paper’ containing indications and recommendations for COP27 in Egypt.
The debates preceding COP28 in Dubai will be attended by representatives of the UN, as well as Polish and EU politicians, people related to the economy, renowned experts, and representatives of institutions and organisations.
The agenda of the meeting will include the most relevant topics related to the reduction in CO2 emissions, Polish and European climate policy, and halting global warming as well as mitigating the already visible and ever‑growing consequences of the climate catastrophe.
One of the main themes will be the ongoing transition of the energy sector towards the elimination of fossil fuels and reduction in the impact of the energy industry and the energy-consuming economy on the environment and climate.
This theme will become all the more important due to the location of this year’s summit. The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s largest suppliers of fossil fuels.
In Katowice, we will surely discuss the problems of the transport sector, which is facing the challenge of achieving zero emissions without losing its function.
Another key area of focus for PRECOP will be the transformation of the economy into a circular system – one that generates no waste and uses resources rationally.
Achieving these goals will not be possible without broadening awareness and deepening knowledge, both of which are vitally important for the acceptance of change that does not always receive a positive social response. What can substantially support and become a precondition for success in this case is public trust and reliability, as well as solidarity and co-operation – including among those who bear the costs of climate change to varying degrees. That is why one of the important themes of PRECOP is related to climate education and the transparency and credibility of the green transition measures.
The complicated geopolitical situation, as well as mounting international tensions and crisis phenomena in the economy still remain a significant context for climate action goals. War has not cancelled the green transition; on the contrary, it has given it new dynamics linked to security demands. The ever more frequent calls for the reconstruction of Ukraine presuppose the modernisation of this large European country along the lines of the Green Deal. This is yet another important theme of PRECOP 28 – especially from a European perspective.
The access to green capital, the adaptation of cities to climate change, a safe and sustainable food system, and the protection of marine ecosystems – all these themes complete this brief overview of the emerging PRECOP 28 agenda.
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PRECOP 28 is organised by the United Nations Global Compact Network Poland (the Polish office of the world’s largest UN initiative for co-operation with business in support of sustainable development) and the PTWP SA Group – the organiser of the European Economic Congress as well as other conferences and special events.
Within the UN system, the United Nations Global Compact is responsible for co-operation with the private sector. Inaugurated by the UN Secretary-General in 2000, the initiative brings together companies that develop strategies and actions based on ten universal principles (The Ten Principles) in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environmental protection, and anti-corruption measures. The mission of the UN Global Compact is to involve the private sector in the implementation of UN climate policies, in particular the 2015 Paris Agreement. United Nations Global Compact Network Poland co-ordinates businesses working towards sustainable development in Poland. At UN Global Compact Network Poland, environmental goals are implemented through the Climate Positive programme, which identifies and helps achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 13 related to environmental protection and climate action, as well as the following complementary goals: 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15.