Watch this video featuring our It Takes Roots delegation at COP28. We are on the ground to send a clear message to our governments to take more meaningful action, even while we implement our own real solutions and plan for how vulnerable communities can best survive severe impacts of climate change.

A Global Gaslighting, Not a Global Stock Take

The urgency of our calls for climate justice and real, honest inclusion of the frontlines only continues to grow louder. As we approach an official close to this year’s UN Climate Conference of Parties, we are no closer to global leaders committing to act with Just Transition principles to execute a “fair, fast, funded, and feminist” fossil fuel phase out. And not only are the wealthiest nations in the world not committing to language that would hold them accountable to doing more to phase out fossil fuels faster or to support other countries in their energy transitions, they are actively obstructing any attempts to ensure they do their fair share–or at the very least, to not continue operating at status quo. 

Although this conference was supposed to come up with the first “global stock take” – a taking stock of where countries are on reaching goals set in the Paris Agreement and across conferences, the draft texts (the latest that we have here) have all been watered down into the least committal possible version. 

Caption: Bineshi Albert, co-executive director of CJA spoke this morning at the Women and Gender Pavilion about the impacts of false solutions, dangerous distractions, and climate scams on frontline communities.

Carbon Capture is Just a Synonym for Fossil Fuel Expansion

Throughout CJA’s time at COP28, we have witnessed a gaslighting by the wealthiest nations enacted upon the rest of us around the world. While their histories of colonization, industrialization, militarization, and extractivism clearly paint a picture of how they have brought the world to today’s climate crisis, they continue to talk the talk of change, without walking the walk. The U.S. has been one leader of the bullies, carefully navigating a fine line that sounds good, but allows the U.S. to continue fossil fuel expansion, under the cover of dangerous false solutions like carbon capture (CCS) and hydrogen— and as it continues to find reasons to duck out of climate reparations. 

Power imbalances have pervaded every fiber of the structure of the negotiations — from the capacity of wealthier nations to send more negotiators than smaller nations (who can then swap out for one another when they need rest), to how civil society is restricted in voice and participation in the negotiations, to the huge fossil fuel and corporate interest presence ready to swoop in to reap profits while claiming they are saving the day.

Even as we send out this message, the negotiations are at a standoff, and may extend beyond tomorrow, because the latest Global Stock Take draft reflects the U.S.’s lack of leadership—and its kowtowing to the ways of capitalism and profits over humanity, people and planet. 

The only silver lining is the continued determination of social movements, particularly from the Global South. The People's Plenary today highlighted the voices of young people and women -- powerful leaders who know the real solutions and will keep fighting at every level for a truly just transition. The time is now to stand firm and hold the line, knowing so many frontline communities across the so-called United States, and across the globe, are in solidarity to reclaim our Indigenous wisdom, repair harms, and heal our planet.

Access all of our Field Notes and our documentation on our participation in COP28 here.

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