With devastating wildfires, unprecedented flooding, and record-smashing levels of heat, the world is seeing a significant rise in extreme weather events—and some experts warn the trend may be the “new normal.” Against that backdrop, policymakers, officials, civil-society leaders, and activists are gathering in the hopes of forging a decisive global response to the climate crisis. Will countries react quickly enough with policies to limit rising temperatures and help people adapt to the new normal? And will developing countries receive the attention they deserve at COP28? Our experts are on the case in Dubai.

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Live analysis

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2023

Expert analysis: The successes and shortcomings in the fight against climate change at COP28

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts dispatched to Dubai, where they analyzed how global leaders responded to the greatest challenges posed by climate change.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Transitions

Featured events

Upcoming events

December 2 – December 12, 2023

The Global Energy Center co-hosts the Global Decarbonization Accelerator (GDA) Connect space featuring panel discussions on accelerating pathways to net-zero, interviews, networking, and more.

Featured from across the Council

Global Energy Center

The Global Energy Center (GEC) will deploy its convening power and vision for climate action and energy innovations on the ground in Dubai to engage in dialogue; host its flagship event, the Global Energy Forum; and provide timely commentary and analysis on developments and outcomes at the climate conference.

Global Energy Forum

The ninth Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum will be held June 17 and 18 in Washington, DC. Please check back regularly for updates on our programming.

Adrienne Arsht Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center

Arsht-Rock will put adaptation, finance, and policy solutions for climate resilience at the heart of every discussion and agenda at COP28. Our team will elevate this urgent issue and showcase the innovative solutions that are already protecting lives and livelihoods from the impacts of climate-driven extreme heat.

Middle East Programs

empowerME Initiative

The Atlantic Council’s empowerME Initiative will be hosting two sessions live, on the ground during COP28, titled: Unleashing the Green Energy Potential in the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa. The first session will discuss the policy and regulatory framework to promote the green energy sector, and the second will discuss enabling green energy potential in the region through finance and innovation. In addition, we will be providing daily live updates on the developments in COP28 in the blue and green zone, with a focus on the global south and the MENA region.

empowerME climate profiles

The Atlantic Council’s empowerME Initiative will be highlighting the dire climate situation for differing nations in the Middle East and North Africa region through our “Climate Profiles” series.

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative and TRENDS Research and Advisory in the United Arab Emirates are partnering for their 3rd annual conference on “Sustainable Security in the Middle East,” focusing this year on “the Soft and Hard Implications of Climate Action.” The two-day conference will take place in the Green Zone at COP28 during the afternoons of the 4th and 5th of December.

Atlantic Council in Turkey

The Atlantic Council IN TURKEY & Turkey Programs is hosting a joint event on December 9 with Trends Research and Advisory, a UAE based think tank to launch a report on cooperation between the Turkey and the GCC towards the clean energy transition in line with the Atlantic Council’s focus on leveraging regional cooperation to bolster clean energy. Turkey and the GCC share many synergies in the energy sector and unlocking the mutually beneficial areas of cooperation can play a vital role in addressing the challenge of climate change to the region.

Africa Center

The Africa Center will place African solutions at the forefront of the global discussion taking place at COP28. Featuring a report launch on the potential impact of Green Banking Ecosystems, the Africa Center will convene a Green Zone event series highlighting the need for a renewed climate finance architecture that takes African realities into account. The Center will also take a comprehensive look at the role that Island nations play in connecting the continent to the rest of the globe, and their global leadership in combating climate change.

GeoTech Center

The GeoTech Center will emphasize space-based capabilities contribution to climate science and sustainability research at COP28. A Blue Zone panel discussion will explore how space assets and their data can meaningfully progress critical climate research, including the role of international bodies in maximizing the impact of these efforts.

All publications

EnergySource

Nov 8, 2022

Partner perspectives: With COP27 underway, there’s no time to waste—public capital is a key conduit to a just energy transition

By Susan Flanagan

The sheer scale of needed investments to enact the energy transition will require an unprecedented mobilization of capital. Given its unique capabilities, public capital must play a significant part in this effort.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

New Atlanticist

Nov 7, 2022

Live updates from COP27 as leaders battle climate change amid global crises

By Atlantic Council

Are global leaders heeding this year’s wake-up calls with bold commitments at COP27? Our experts give their takes.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Nov 4, 2022

Just Energy Transition Partnerships: Will COP27 deliver for emerging economies?

By Christopher Cassidy, Rainer Quitzow, and Maia Sparkman

The JETP model is poised to deliver results in South Africa. Now, at COP27 and beyond, the true test will be translating the model to other country contexts.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

EnergySource

Nov 4, 2022

To meet energy security and climate goals, Africa needs investment in infrastructure

By William Tobin, Maia Sparkman

To this point, Western engagement in Africa has primarily taken the form of aid. For the continent to achieve widespread electrification and form the foundation for robust economic growth, that engagement will need to morph into investment and partnership.

Africa Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Nov 3, 2022

The IEA World Energy Outlook 2022 highlights climate finance needs ahead of COP27

By Emily Burlinghaus

The new IEA World Energy Outlook 2022 should be used as a roadmap at COP27 for the allocation of climate-oriented resources. Doing so would better enable developing nations to ride the wave of interest in clean technologies amid the global energy crisis and share in the benefits of the transition.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment
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The Atlantic Council’s coverage of the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, listed by year.