COP28: urbanisation, the built environment, and transport
At COP28, the spotlight was on multilevel action, urbanisation, the built environment, and transport—critical elements in the fight against climate change. Cities, home to over 55% of the global population and responsible for 75% of CO2 emissions, took centre stage in discussions. Momentum toward net zero is palpable, particularly in the built environment and transport sectors.
As we focus on COP28's negotiations, countries grapple with formulating a collective response to the Global Stocktake—a "scorecard" signalling a deviation from the path to achieving Paris Agreement goals.
This update highlights key developments in urbanisation, the built environment, and transport.
Urbanisation
City and local governments, pivotal in climate actions, spearhead mitigation and adaptation efforts. However, a call for acceleration resonates at this COP. Significant announcements include:
Enhancing NDCs: In a collaborative effort, 64 countries joined the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action. This commitment aims to partner with subnational governments to elevate the ambition of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other climate plans.
City Collaboration: The inaugural Local Climate Action Summit brought together 250+ mayors and governors, mobilising $467 million for urban climate action. This funding will support urban infrastructure and subnational climate initiatives.
Built Environment
Responsible for a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, the built environment presents a critical frontier for emission reduction. Key initiatives unveiled include:
Cement and Concrete Decarbonisation: The Cement and Concrete Breakthrough, launched by Canada and the UAE, targets the sector responsible for about 7% of global emissions. This collaborative effort seeks innovative decarbonisation solutions to accelerate progress toward net-zero cement.
Building Decarbonisation: 27 countries and UNEP introduced the Buildings Breakthrough to achieve near-zero emissions and resilient buildings by 2030. An annual assessment of global progress in the sector will be conducted in alignment with the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction.
Green Procurement: The UK, United States, Canada, and Germany committed to the Green Public Procurement Pledge. This entails driving demand for low and near-zero-emissions steel, cement, and concrete through public procurement and developing harmonised emissions accounting standards.
Transport
Transport, contributing 23% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, emerged as a focal point for transformative actions. Key developments include:
Green Shipping: The Green Shipping Challenge marked several advancements, including establishing Green Shipping Corridors and regulatory commitments by countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and South Korea.
Hydrogen for Shipping: A Joint Commitment by 30 shipping leaders signals a commitment to utilising renewable hydrogen-derived shipping fuel by the end of this decade. This aligns with the IMO's target of 70-80% emissions reduction by 2040.
Zero-Emission Buses: The Collective for Clean Transport Finance partners committed to spearheading lighthouse projects on the global deployment of zero-emission buses, medium and heavy-duty freight, and two- and three-wheeler electrification.