COP28: Pew Events at the Dubai U.N. Climate Conference

Event November 30-December 12, 2023 Read time:

Projects: Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy

The 28th meeting of Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, will take place 30 November to 12 December in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Representatives from governments, industry, non-profit organizations, Indigenous peoples and local communities from around the world will convene, as they do annually, seeking to reduce emissions, adapt to climate impacts and finance a clean energy future. Negotiations will consider progress towards the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, debate the phase-out of fossil fuels and discuss a new global fund to address climate-driven loss and damage.

The Pew Charitable Trusts will have several events and staff in Dubai to advance our work on climate mitigation and adaptation; this page features those events.

Pew-relevant events

Blue Carbon Ecosystems for People, Nature, and Climate: Leadership in the Western Indian Ocean
Friday, 1 December, 17:00 to 19:00
Sharing knowledge and building regional connections towards science-based nationally determined contribution (NDC) targets for seagrass and mangrove ecosystems. Featuring keynote remarks by Minister of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Flavien Joubert of Seychelles, SeyCCAT CEO Marie-May Jeremie and Simon Reddy from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Location: Seychelles Pavilion
Ambition to Action: Creative Financing for a Nature-Positive Future
Monday, 4 December, 11:30 to 12:30
Limited financing is a significant roadblock for many countries as they strive to develop a nature-positive future. This panel will explore creative and sustainable ways to secure financing for nature conservation.
Location: Nature Zone Pavilion

Beyond Blue Carbon: Maximizing the Benefits of Coastal Wetland NDC Commitments for Climate, People and Nature
Tuesday, 5 December, 13:45 to 15:00
This event features countries that have included coastal wetlands in their NDCs and their experience with policy, financing and stakeholder outreach for NDC development and implementation. Panelists will represent the Latin America-Caribbean region (Belize, Costa Rica, and Jamaica) and the western Indian Ocean region (Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania).
Location: Commonwealth Pavilion
Blue Carbon Coastal Wetlands in Climate Action: Taking Stock of Nature-Based Solutions in Practice
Friday, 8 December, 18:30 to 19:30
Pew’s coastal wetlands team will share lessons learned in implementing and updating country commitments for the restoration and protection of coastal mangrove, seagrass and saltmarsh ecosystems.
Location: SE Room 6

The Impact of Climate Change on Cetaceans
Friday, 8 December, 10:00 to 11:00
The Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project’s South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) campaign is drawing to a close in mid-December, just as an SGSSI government review of the islands’ marine protected area culminates. The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Tom Hickey will join partners Whale and Dolphin Conservation and the Great Blue Ocean Coalition on a panel to discuss how climate change is affecting cetaceans around the SGSSI.
Location: Cryosphere Pavilion

Courtney Durham Shane Senior Officer

Courtney Durham Shane leads Pew’s engagement in the United Nations negotiations on climate change and supports efforts to incorporate and strengthen climate considerations in Pew’s conservation projects. She also focuses on the Trusts’ energy modernization project, which advances the transition to electric vehicles; builds a clean, reliable electric grid; and expands renewable energy solutions, such as offshore wind.

Ellen Ward, Ph.D. Officer

Ellen Ward, Ph.D., works with Pew’s conservation support team, where she focuses on furthering climate adaptation and resilience solutions in the U.S. and internationally.

Thomas Hickey Project Director

Thomas Hickey supports Pew’s protecting coastal wetlands and coral reefs project and is responsible for leading engagement with a range of stakeholders, including nongovernmental organizations, scientific partners, government representatives and delegates within international institutions such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Simon Reddy Director

Simon Reddy directs two Pew initiatives: the preventing ocean plastics project, which aims to propose strategies to reduce the global ocean plastic pollution problem, and the protecting coastal wetlands and coral reefs project.