Resolution submitted by AKEL and the Ecologists’ Movement ahead of the COP28 summit

 

11 December 2023

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) is currently taking place in Dubai, UAE

In view of the discussions on the actions that humanity must take to tackle climate change, AKEL and the Ecologists’ Movement – Citizens’ Co-operation submitted a resolution to the plenary session of the House of Representatives which was adopted unanimously.

Resolution on the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28)

The House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus,

In view of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change to be held in the United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December 2023,

Recalling its unanimous relevant resolutions of 18 February 2010, 5 November 2009 and 11 December 2008, and December 2010 and December 2019,

Having regard to the agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (“the Paris Agreement”),

Having regard to the agreement reached at COP27 to establish a special fund for loss and damage and to take a decision at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP28) on how to implement the fund, as well as the Santiago loss and damage network,

Bearing in mind the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

Having regard to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report of 27 October 2022 on the greenhouse gas emissions gap in 2022, entitled “The Closing Window – Climate crisis call for fast transformation of societies”, its report of 1 November 2022 on the adaptation gap in 2022, entitled ‘Too Little, Too Slow – Climate adaptation failure puts world at risk’ and its 20 October 2021 report on the 2021 production gap,

Considering that the European Parliament has declared a climate and environmental emergency and committed itself to urgently take the specific actions needed to combat and mitigate this threat before it is too late; considering that biodiversity loss and climate change are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, and pose an equal threat to life on our planet, and should therefore be urgently addressed together,

Welcoming the growing international attention being paid to the devastating effects of climate change on the planet,

Expressing its deep concern that the ongoing dialogue on addressing climate change is proceeding very slowly,

Underlining that climate change affects all countries and their peoples without discrimination, exacerbating issues of social justice, equity and human rights and jeopardising the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals,

Expressing once again its deep concern about the extreme weather phenomena observed worldwide as a result of human activities, the consequences of which are still particularly visible and intensifying in the Eastern Mediterranean,

Taking into account the scientific predictions regarding climate change in Cyprus in the coming years and the multidimensional negative impacts it may bring about,

Underlining Cyprus’ commitment to the efforts to save the environment in general and in particular to the commitments undertaken by the European Union to address this global challenge,

Bearing in mind that the Republic of Cyprus is already committed to European and Global Agreements which result in binding objectives and obligations, the failure to fulfil or breach of which entails a heavy financial cost, which is borne by the already suffering Cypriot citizen.

Pointing out that the continued illegal military occupation of 37% of the Republic of Cyprus is a huge problem in the implementation of a comprehensive policy against climate change throughout the territory of the Republic of Cyprus,

Unanimously:

1. Calls on all parties and EU member states to use all diplomatic channels to work with all the sides to speed up their short, medium and long-term climate goals and accompanying policies, and to raise the level of ambition of their National State Goals to continue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C in accordance with the Glasgow Climate Pact.
2. Stresses the need to accelerate climate action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement in a way that ensures a just transition that leaves no one behind; calls for COP28 to address the need for systemic transformation towards an economic model that ensures the well-being of all within the limits of the planet.
3. Stresses once again the need to demonstrate the necessary political will, consensus and solidarity to render feasible an Agreement binding on all Parties towards specific and measurable emission reduction targets and the establishment of a global pollutant management system.
4. Calls on the Government of Cyprus to make the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDs) among its priorities and to constitute a horizontal policy of the State. Cyprus still lags behind in terms of achieving these targets. There is an urgent need for action and for policies and strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality and boost economic growth alongside addressing climate change,
5. Calls on the Government of Cyprus to promote processes for a rapid and equitable energy transition, to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, to improve adaptation, enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change,
6. Points out that the resulting agreement in the UAE should call on all parties to increase their commitments and present a definitive roadmap for a collective target of doubling adaptation funding by 2025, based on 2019 levels, with a view to achieving a balance between mitigation and adaptation funding, and calls for further contributions to be made to the Fund for the less developed countries and the Special Climate Change Fund; calls on the Commission and member states to identify concrete ways to increase their funding for adaptation by 2025. In addition, to provide the necessary financial and other incentives to restore and protect the Mediterranean wetlands that are on the “front line”,
7. Stresses that effective access to justice on environmental matters, in accordance with the Aarhus Convention, is crucial to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
8. Calls on the Government of Cyprus to ensure that the National Energy and Climate Plan includes sufficient actions and financial means to achieve Cyprus’ 2030 targets consistent with the objective of keeping the average global temperature increase well below 2°C and to ensure transparency on Cyprus’ performance on climate and energy action.
9. Reiterates its position that the European Union can and must continue to play a leading and pioneering role at the UAE Conference.
10. Stresses that the current geopolitical situation and expensiveness demonstrates the need for further development of renewable energy sources; to achieve energy security, but also the resilience of Cyprus’ economy,
11. Stresses the need for the European Union to exert pressure so that a global agreement is reached to phase out the global use of coal, oil and gas and to encourage the use of Renewable Energy Sources,
12. Stresses the need to reduce the gap between countries in terms of the energy transition from fossil fuels to Renewable Energy Sources, minimising the gap in each country’s economic capacity to do so,
13. Observes that people are affected by climate change in different ways, depending on factors such as gender, age, disability, ethnicity and poverty; notes that vulnerable populations, such as the poor, notes that vulnerable groups, such as the poor, women and the elderly, are most affected by its consequences; believes that gender balance is crucial for a just and inclusive transition; stresses the need to incorporate the gender dimension more effectively into all relevant goals and objectives; stresses the need to integrate the gender dimension more effectively into all relevant goals and objectives
14. Stresses the need to promote all those measures that will enhance the Republic of Cyprus’ contribution to tackling climate change, by implementing measures and policies that promote the use of renewable energy sources, energy saving, the withdrawal from non-renewable energy sources, the development of sustainable public transport systems, etc.
15. Calls on the Cypriot Government to increase its commitments and to support all efforts to increase the European Union’s emission reduction target for 2030.