Roadmap to COP28 in Dubai: A Sneak Peek into Bonn's Climate Mitigation Agenda

As we draw closer to COP28 UAE, professionals in Architecture, Design, and Construction (AEC) interested in this significant world event should familiarize themselves with the many aspects and focus points covered during the 13-day conference. Delegates and organizations worldwide will participate in COP28, with the UAE’s iteration of this yearly event hosting two distinct spaces called the Blue Zone and the Green Zone. The Green Zone is an opportunity for public and private sector members, NGOs, and the general public to participate in COP28 alongside the accredited guests, parties, and delegates of the formal Blue Zone, where negotiations and talks will take place.

AEC professionals and organizations will be able to actively contribute to COP28 through the Green Zone. Given that the built environment created by AEC industries directly impacts the natural world and the climate, it is a rich opportunity for businesses to demonstrate green, sustainable solutions to the continued development of our infrastructures. As such, it is important for AEC professionals who intend to partake in COP28 to learn about and understand the agendas and targets of the conference. One such focus point is Bonn’s Climate Mitigation Agenda.

In this article, we will explore this agenda and how AEC professionals can consider the key points in their preparations for COP28 later this year.

COP28 quick facts:

• COP is the annual international climate summit of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Each year, world leaders gather at COP to discuss and strategize for climate action.
• COP28 is the 2023 climate summit, which will take place in Dubai, UAE, between 30 November and 12 December.
• At the COP28 summit, parties will assess progress on the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• COP28 will consist of the Blue Zone and Green Zone, which enables members of the public to participate in and attend the summit.

What is Bonn’s Climate Mitigation Agenda?

In June 2023, the Bonn Climate Change Conference took place in Germany. Developed at the conference by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Bonn’s Climate Mitigation Agenda is a set of proposals for how the world can reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the next ten years. The agenda provides a succinct vision for the steps needed to achieve the Paris Agreement's goals and can serve as a guide for all countries to adopt as part of their climate action plans.

Key points within the Climate Mitigation Agenda

The agenda contains various key focus points and recommendations developed by the SBSTA and SBI. Not only do these proposals aim to strengthen international cooperation and improve accountability, they include actionable targets that can encourage reduced emissions:

• The setting of a global 2050 net-zero emissions goal. This aims to have all greenhouse gas emissions reduced or removed from our atmosphere by 2050.
• Raising awareness of climate change for the public. By spreading awareness and education about climate change, citizens worldwide can be encouraged to take action.
• More investment in climate change mitigation measures such as energy efficiency. Emissions can be further reduced through energy-efficient measures such as improved building insulation, sustainable resource management, and even energy-efficient appliances.
• Provision of financial assistance to developing countries to reduce emissions. This will empower developing nations in the transition to a low-carbon economy and infrastructure.
• Aggressive scaling up of renewable energy deployment. The more rapidly renewable energy sources are adopted, the sooner fossil fuels can be replaced by cleaner, greener solutions.

Bonn’s Climate Mitigation Agenda and COP28

As the SBSTA and SBI are bodies of the UNFCCC, Bonn’s Climate Mitigation Agenda is closely connected with the aims and agenda of COP28. The key points of Bonn’s agenda will form part of the discussions that will take place between world leaders at the summit and hence provide a valuable blueprint for how the goals of COP28 and the Paris Agreement may be achieved.

For members of the AEC industry, the Bonn Climate Mitigation Agenda outlines the need for developers and creators within these arenas to focus their efforts on producing sustainable solutions for furthering our built environments. At COP28, AEC professionals will have the opportunity to showcase how they can do so. We hold the power to positively change the trajectory of green, sustainable development, and COP28 is the perfect place to start!

Register for COP28 now and prepare to create positive change for our environment.