At COP28, China says the ocean could be key to storing carbon

UAE CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE COP28

epa11014015 A model takes to the catwalk during the Sustainable fashion show as part of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) at Expo City Dubai in Dubai, UAE, 06 December 2023. The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), runs from 30 November to 12 December, and is expected to host one of the largest number of participants in the annual global climate conference as over 70,000 estimated attendees, including the member states of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples and other relevant stakeholders will attend. EPA/ALI HAIDER Source: EPA / ALI HAIDER/EPA

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On the eighth day of the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, delegates have discussed ways to better protect the ocean's atmosphere. Meanwhile, for the first time in history, a COP gathering has hosted a sustainable fashion show.


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TRANSCRIPT:

For the past week or so in Dubai, there has been serious discussion about climate change and what the world can do about it.

On the eighth day of the summit, there's been a change of pace, with a sustainable fashion show.

It's the first time a COP gathering has hosted a fashion event, which aims to redefine the fashion industry, known as the second largest polluter in the world, after the oil industry.

"Sustainability could be also an aspect by which people should choose clothes and dresses because it is becoming much more important in everyday aspects of our life. Sustainability would be a respect for ourselves and the environment as well."
"When you buy clothes, they have a little bit of plastic in it too. If we use more plastic and we buy more plastic, the planet is going to die and we won't have any trees, any nature."

But there has also been a continuation of intense talks. 

On the sidelines, China has hosted an event to discuss the protection of the ocean.

The ocean is a crucial environment, storing approximately 93 per cent of the Earth's carbon dioxide and absorbing nearly 40 per cent of human emissions since the Industrial Revolution.

China is proposing a reduction in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere by utilising the capacity of the ocean to absorb and store carbon.

Academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiao Nianzhi, says China can be a key player in finding solutions on ocean negative carbon emissions.

"China possesses unique characteristics and advantages. We must make use of these strengths and advantages, and contribute to the causes of global consensus which are related to a community with a shared future for mankind. [To achieve this goal], we need to make good use of science, establish a solid foundation, understand the underlying mechanisms and processes, and carry out ocean negative carbon emissions in a reasonable, fair, lawful and effective manner to increase carbon absorption and alleviate the impacts of climate warming."

Much has been made of China's involvement in climate change, and their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Ocean, Peter Thomson, has commended China's desire to deal with the healthy situation facing the ocean.

"What we're doing is universal and it's global, because the problems of the ocean are not confined to one or two countries. It's a universal, global problem. The health of the planet depends on the health of the ocean. And the ocean's health is currently, measurably in decline. So, we all have to fix it. So, I'm so happy that China is heavily engaged."
 
The World Meteorological Organisation has also praised its progress.

Abdulla Al Mandous is the President of the W-M-O.

"I think China is playing a big role on this early-warning and for all, and we really value [and] appreciate their work, their technologies, and their advancement on this initiative. I think China is doing a good, great job on this, and they are taking really things very seriously with the solar power and the renewable energy. And I think they are going in the right track."

But despite those glowing remarks, China still has its critics when it comes to climate efforts.

China is one of three nations, alongside Russia and Saudi Arabia, who oppose a full phase out of fossil fuels - while more than 80 countries are pushing for a broad pact to phase out all CO2-emitting fossil fuels.


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