COP28 President Launches Historic Climate Initiative With Troika Vision in Denmark
COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber on Thursday unveiled the COP Presidencies’ Troika, a new initiative aimed at bolstering global climate efforts. Speaking at the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial, held in Helsingør, around 25 miles north of Copenhagen, Al Jaber described the Troika as a strategic alliance between the presidencies of COP28, COP29, and COP30, designed to ensure a unified and ambitious approach to the upcoming rounds of nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement, the landmark international treaty on climate change. These are plans that countries submit, outlining their commitments to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Each country’s NDC is expected to reflect its highest possible ambition, taking into account its national circumstances. The goal is to collectively limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C. NDCs are unique to each country and include targets, measures, policies, and actions governments intend to implement in response to climate change and as a contribution to global climate action. These contributions are meant to be updated and enhanced every five years, reflecting the principle of “progression” and ensuring that parties’ efforts to address climate change are continually scaled up over time.
Dr. Al Jaber, along with COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev and André Corrêa do Lago, the climate, energy and environment secretary for COP30 host Brazil, shared the Troika’s vision to align future NDCs with the global objective of maintaining a 1.5°C temperature rise within manageable limits. This collaboration, Al Jaber said, marks a significant shift toward continuity and increased implementation of existing commitments.
Highlighting the Troika’s function, Dr. Al Jaber emphasized its critical role in steering the global community toward submitting comprehensive NDCs that address all greenhouse gases and advocate for substantial emission reductions by 2035. The initiative also focuses on ensuring that these contributions are submitted well in advance of COP30, fostering an environment where science guides just and responsible energy transitions.
In addition to setting ambitious climate goals, the Troika has reached out to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, advocating for a coherent technical support framework to assist member states, especially those in the developing world, in crafting and implementing their NDCs.
Dr. Al Jaber also addressed the importance of adaptation and finance in the climate discourse, noting the establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund as a significant achievement of COP28. He further encouraged substantial contributions to the fund and invited parties to the upcoming UAE Climate Finance Forum in Abu Dhabi, and called for “a climate finance architecture that unlocks the trillions needed for transformational green growth.”
