NRDC at COP28: Taking Stock of Global Progress

This year, for the first time, countries will assess their collective progress toward meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement in a “global stocktake.” Experts have already shown that we are not on the road to a 1.5-degree Celsius future, which is where we need to be to avoid the worst impacts of the warming planet. So, this meeting will be the time for all actors—governments, companies, financial institutions, and more—to commit to the urgent actions we need to close the gap during this decisive decade.

This year has been yet another one of devastating floods, deadly heat waves, tragic droughts, and catastrophic storms. The stakes are high, but so is the opportunity. We need bold and decisive action, and we need it now.

NRDC will participate in COP28 at a range of events with our partners from around the world. We invite you to join us, in person or virtually, to learn about our work there.

NRDC Events at COP28

Climate-Friendly Cooling

• Global Collaboration for Innovation and Sustainable Cooling: Solutions for Market Transformation (Official UNFCCC side event)
  December 4, 11:30 a.m–1 p.m. Gulf Standard Time (GST), Blue Zone, SE Room 8
  This United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) side event—jointly hosted by NRDC, the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)—will discuss innovative solutions to address the complexities of climate change, with a focus on heating and cooling challenges in emerging economies.

• Innovations for Advancing Access to Affordable, Sustainable Cooling and Building Resilience to Extreme Heat
  December 8, 12–1 p.m. GST, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion 
  Government and national actors from India and other countries will come together to brainstorm about what is needed to implement transformative solutions at scale on heating and cooling in developing countries.

• NRDC expert: Prima Madan

• NRDC India expert: Ashish Jindal

Renewable Energy

• Gender-Inclusive Energy Access: Putting Women at the Heart of Climate Action 
  December 4, 1–2 p.m. GST, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion Co-organized by NRDC and the UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub, this session will showcase innovative and successful examples of women-led, climate-friendly, and clean energy solutions.

• NRDC India experts: Akanksha Golchha, Charu Lata 

Liquefied Natural Gas 

• The Risky Business of Global LNG
  December 8, 6:30–9:30 p.m. GST
  This two-part panel event will spotlight the significant climate, health, and equity impacts of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion. The first panel invites local partners from developing regions and U.S. grassroots leaders to share the effects of LNG expansion in their communities. During the second panel, decision makers from government, civil society, and finance will discuss the social license of global LNG expansion.

• NRDC experts: Mima Holt, Morgan Johnson, Jamie Lee, Ade Samuel

• Background reading: Overseas LNG Investment Undercuts U.S. Climate Credibility 

Green Hydrogen

• Getting Hydrogen Right: Perspectives from Three Leading NGOs
  December 6, 4:30–5:30 p.m. GST, Zero-Carbon Future Pavilion
  NRDC President and CEO Manish Bapna will join Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, and Armond Cohen, executive director of the Clean Air Task Force, in a fireside chat moderated by Valerie Volcovici of Thomson Reuters, where they will lay out their vision for getting hydrogen right for the climate and for communities.

• Hydrogen Production Standards: A Discussion of Global Efforts to Define Clean Hydrogen
  December 9, 1:30–2:30 p.m. GST, Bellona Pavilion
  International panelists from government, the private sector, and civil society will discuss new hydrogen production standards, and how they can ensure climate integrity of this innovative technology while rapidly scaling up production. 

• Background reading: Keep Clean Hydrogen Clean 

• NRDC experts: Pete Budden, Rachel Fakhry

NRDC Staff

In addition to experts listed above, the following NRDC and NRDC India staff will be on the ground, tracking the latest developments on priority issues at COP28, including fossil fuels, clean energy, biodiversity, forests, finance, food, loss and damage, subnational leadership, and more:

NRDC's Latest COP28 Commentary

Stories from the Frontlines of Global LNG Build-out at COP28

Food Waste Solutions on the Menu at COP28

Risky Realities: Recognizing the Harm of Global LNG Expansion

A Wake-Up Call to Political and Financial Enablers of Global LNG Expansion

COP28 Climate Funds Pledge Tracker

Green Climate Fund Pledge Tracker

Taking Climate Action Forward: India Key to Dubai Climate Talks

Countries Establish Historic Loss and Damage Fund

More than 100 Organizations Call for a Forest Accountability Framework

Delivering Ambition, Action, and Equity at COP28

At Global Climate Talks, Stakes are High but so is Opportunity

Achieving Climate and Biodiversity Synergy in China

NRDC's COP28 Press Releases

Countries Establish Historic Loss & Damage Fund

NRDC Renews Pledge to Green Climate Fund

US Makes Major Coal Announcement at COP28

US Announces Over 1 Billion in Global Methane Reduction

I will update this page regularly, so check back often for the latest information, including breaking statements, deep-dive blogs, and new publications.