28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP)
COP 28 took place from 30 November to 12 December 2023 at Expo City, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Canada as a nation participated in COP 28 to support successful and ambitious outcomes that align with the Paris Agreement, build adaptive capacity and deliver on climate finance commitments.
Delegation to COP 28
SFU's COP 28 delegation marks the second time the university sent a delegation with representation from across the university to the conference. The purpose of this delegation is to share our work, connect with other global organizations, document the conference and how climate negotiations take place, share with the SFU community what we see and learn, connect SFU student climate leaders with the youth delegation, speak at sessions and showcase SFU's climate action and research leadership.
Wednesday, March 27
6pm - 8pm
SFU Harbour Centre, Rooms 1400-1410 (Segal Centre)
515 West Hastings St, Vancouver
COP 28 resulted in historic developments in global environmental politics and climate finance, including the UAE Consensus, calling for a transition away from fossil fuels. While this is a significant step towards climate justice, we still have a long way to go.
Join COP 28 UBC and SFU student delegates Abul Bashar Rahman, Evan Accettola, Hailin Wang, and Mina Nepali and student moderators Rhea Dinesh and Zahila Rahman for a panel centered in youth perspectives on climate action in British Columbia and across the globe, including expectations for COP 29.
Light refreshments will be served and there will be an opportunity to network and learn more about getting involved in climate action with guests at a Climate Action Booth.
Hosted by the Climate Action Secretariat, Embark Sustainability Society, SFU Sustainability, UBC Sustainability Hub and UBC Climate Hub.
An Intergenerational Dialogue - The Meaning of Net Zero and Its Implications for Carbon Dioxide Deployment & UNFCCC Negotiations
December 3, 2023
GAUC – China Pavilion, Blue Zone
Co-hosted by the University of Oxford – Oxford Net Zero and Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, YOUNGO - Energy Working Group, Carbon Balance Initiative and other partners.
BC Delegation Meeting with BC Minister of Environment and Climate Change (George Heyman) and Deputy Minister (Jeremy Hewitt)
December 5, 2023
Time: 5:00PM
Location: TBA
SFU and UBC delegates meet with BC Minister of Environment and Climate Change (George Heyman) and Deputy Minister (Jeremy Hewitt) to discuss the voice of youth and future generations in climate action, among other topics.
What does ‘Net Zero emissions’ need to mean to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement?
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) to reach net-zero and return from overshoot: knowledge gaps and research priorities
December 6, 2023
2:45pm - 4:15pm
IPCC Pavillion
Procurement for the Planet: How food procurement shifts can help meet sustainability goals
Messages from the Frontlines: An Integrative Approach to Climate, Economy, and Land-Use
December 6, 2023
10:30am - 11:30am
Canada Pavilion
Hosted by the SFU Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue.
SFU Alumni Event
December 7, 2023
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Mythos Urban Greek Eatery - The Square, City Walk, Dubai
A unique opportunity to interact with other delegates and alumni from SFU and UBC attending COP 28 — as well as local SFU and UBC alumni communities in the UAE. Come gather with us in Dubai for dinner, drinks, and an evening of mingling with fellow university graduates! A group reservation had been made at Mythos Urban Greek Eatery. Registration is required.
Presented in partnership by alumni UBC, the UBC Sustainability Hub, and SFU Alumni.
Tackling Climate Change Through Food on College Campuses
Multilevel Governance for Climate, Food, and Biodiversity Action
How Might University Campuses Become Test Beds for Scalable Climate Action?
December 11, 2023
Food Systems Pavillion
10:00am - 11:00am
The goal of this session was to exhibit the scalability of food system transformation initiatives led by B.C. universities, underpinned by strong research and academic support. It discussed how these strategies serve as scalable models for effecting change at local, regional, and global levels, and proposed a framework for global universities to actively engage and lead in climate action, emphasizing the multi-stakeholder approach as a cornerstone for widespread societal and environmental impact.
SFU resources
- SFU's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
- SFU's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): www.sfu.ca/sdgs
- SFU joining the UN-led Race To Zero global campaign: SFU News story
- SFU exceeds greenhouse gas reduction targets: SFU News story
- SFU commits to full divestment from fossil fuels: SFU President statement
- SFU's ACT - Action on Climate Team: www.sfu.ca/act
- SFU350 is a student-led club at SFU that works to engage the SFU community in tackling climate change: www.sfu350.com
External resources
- Official host country (Dubai) COP 28 website: www.cop28.com/en/
- UN Climate Change website: www.unfccc.int
- The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change website: www.ipcc.ch
- Government of Canada's UN conference on climate action: www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/canada-international-action/un-climate-change-conference
- Decisions from Dubai: A review of COP28 outcomes
- The UAE Consensus Negotiations Outcome
- Government of Candada: COP28 summary of outcomes
- Youth Stocktake of UNFCCC processes
- Medium: Summary Report, Reflections & Recommendations from COP 28, UAE
- COP28: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Dubai
- "The Most Significant Decisions Since the Paris Agreement" - IISD’s Experts on COP 28 Outcome
Contact
- For general inquiries about SFU at COP, please contact: Marina Van Driel at marina_van_driel@sfu.ca
- For media inquiries, please contact: MediaRelations@sfu.ca.