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We Mean Business Coalition at COP28

We Mean Business Coalition hosted the Business Pavilion for Climate Leadership in the Blue Zone, bringing an ambitious and coordinated business voice to COP28 in Dubai. 

COP28 marked the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era and the first time in history that we have a global agreement to transition away from all fossil fuels in line with science.

COP28 statement | Policy asks | Fossil to Clean | Sponsors and partners

We worked with more than 20 partners and leading businesses across 50 events to drive ambitious policy outcomes and accelerated corporate climate action. Our message remains clear: Incremental change is not enough. We need to go all in at scale. Don’t wait for too late. 

All in means business and government collaboration on bold policies and incentives for climate action across all sectors to deliver a just transition from fossil fuels to economies powered by clean energy. It means well-regulated high integrity voluntary carbon markets. And it means support for companies of all sizes and geographies to reach net-zero.

See live recordings and business interviews from our COP28 Business Pavillion

Watch now

On the ground at COP28

Cities and businesses call for the urgent phase-out of fossil fuels

Mark Watts, C40 Executive Director and Maria Mendiluce leading calls for a fossil fuel phase out at COP28.

Francisco Souza, Board Member, ICVCM, addresses WMBC and VCMI flagship event on high-integrity carbon markets.

Ceres, C2ES, and BCSE hosted the U.S. Policy and Business Dialogue in the auditorium of the Business Pavilion.

RMI hosted a panel event on transition finance and best practice in the Business Pavilion.

WMBC event focuses on the need to build ambition on the road to COP30.

The Climate Pledge and the Partnership for Carbon Transparency event focuses on reducing Scope 3 emissions.

WBCSD hosts a panel discussion on climate adaptation and the just transition.

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COP28 policy asks

COP28 is hosting the final political phase of the first Global Stocktake, assessing progress made since the adoption of the Paris Agreement and informs the next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to be agreed in 2025. 

COP28 must signal an urgent course correction on climate change and the global economy’s fossil fuel addiction, sending a clear signal to all governments on the need to immediately implement climate policies.

Business calls on governments meeting at COP28 to: 

Land a global agreement  to phase-out unabated fossil fuels, in parallel with clean targets to triple renewable energy capacity and double the deployment of energy efficiency.  These are critical to inform countries’ strengthened, high quality NDCs by 2025 in line with a 1.5°C trajectory and halving global emissions by 2030. 

Agree a forward-looking outcome for the first Global Stocktake that signals the course correction needed to bring the global economy to a  1.5°C trajectory, and sets the scene for new, strategic forms of public-private partnership.

Progress towards a non-state actor accountability framework that supports greater recognition and accountability of business climate commitments and actions, drawing on the best existing target-setting and accountability initiatives and encouraging business climate leadership and action from companies at all stages of their journey towards net-zero. 

These outcomes must be underpinned by policies for:

  • accelerated financial flows towards 1.5°C and support for developing countries to transition,
  • alignment between policies on climate, biodiversity loss and nature, and
  • a just and equitable net-zero transition for workers and communities. 

 

Read our COP28 policy asks in full

COP28 policy asks
 

Latest insights from COP28

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Video We Mean Business Coalition Business Pavilion for Climate Leadership at COP28

A video wrap up of our Business Pavilion for Climate Leadership at COP28 in Dubai.

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Blog What the UAE Consensus – agreed at COP28 in Dubai – means for business

The COP28 climate talks in Dubai have concluded with a new deal known as the UAE Consensus, signalling the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era.

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Blog Highlights from the Business Pavillion at COP28

We Mean Business Coalition pavilion hosts voices driving action across nature, energy, finance, transition planning and supply chains, and provides base for the Fossil to Clean campaign.
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Insights COP28 Climate Summit: The End Of The Fossil Fuel Era Has Begun

The agreement by countries that fossil fuels need to be replaced with clean energy is historic. Now the hard work of implementation begins.
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Insights One Word Could Change The Course Of History

The deep disappointment and concern over what some have called a ‘dangerous’ draft text has been palpable.

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Video Support for companies starting their high-integrity climate transition journey: launched at #cop28

Launched today, this animation illustrates the complementary roles played by VCMI, ICVCM, WMBC, CDP, SBTi, and GHG in supporting climate ambition and transition activity.

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Video COP28: María Mendiluce in conversation with Roger Harrabin

Independent journalist and former BBC Environment Analyst Roger Harrabin interviews María Mendiluce at COP28, talking about the impact and potential of the Fossil to Clean campaign.

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Video Roger Harrabin interviews Andrew Prag, Managing Director of Policy

Independent journalist and former BBC Environment Analyst Roger Harrabin interviews Andrew Prag, Managing Director of Policy, WMBC at COP28.
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Insights Six outcomes leading businesses want to see from COP28

COP28 offers a historic opportunity to drastically change course on climate change. Clear timelines for fossil fuel phase out, finance for nature, and a road to more ambitious NDCs are among the outcomes we need to see.
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Video Explainer: Roger Harrabin on COP28

To mark the start of COP28, independent journalist and former BBC Environment Analyst, Roger Harrabin, shares insights on what will be one of the most important climate meetings since COP21 in Paris.

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Insights Joint Statement: Carbon markets must be a transparent, high integrity part of broader corporate climate action

Leading nature and climate organizations at COP28 issue statement calling for more to be done to incentivize and recognize corporate climate investments.
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Insights Letter: don’t overlook the role of the carbon credits market

We must not overlook the role that voluntary carbon markets can play in accelerating near-term action to reduce emissions.
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Insights This is why everyone is talking about COP28

Nations attending COP28 must accelerate the growth of renewable energies, phase out fossil fuels and do more to protect forests and nature.
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Video Interview with Carrier's Hakan Yilmaz

We spoke with Hakan Yilmaz, Senior Vice President and CEO of Carrier on the ground at COP28. Yilmaz talks about working closely with partners on solutions for the clean energy transition.
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Video Business leaders support going from fossil to clean

These business leaders have signed the Fossil to Clean open letter urging governments to address the primary cause of climate change: burning fossil fuels.

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Insights As the endgame for COP28 approaches, what is at stake?

Amid the stocktakes, sticking points and skyscrapers, Managing Director for Policy Andrew Prag hails the versions of the future being envisioned at COP
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Insights The UK must choose: the past, or our future

More than 85 Britain-based businesses have signed a letter urging Cop28 leaders to phase out fossil fuels by the 2040s
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Insights Why We’re Daring To Hope For An Ambitious Outcome At COP28

Headlines coming out of COP28 suggest an agreement to phase out fossil fuels is top of the agenda at the climate conference in Dubai.
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Insights Cities and businesses call for the urgent phase-out of fossil fuels

It is time to end the era of fossil fuels. We cannot afford further delay. At COP28, governments must commit to phase out fossil fuels.

Don’t wait for too late

Progress is happening. The opportunities are unmissable.

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Progress and opportunities

Read the IPCC's special report on climate change and land

Changing the way land is used in value chains can turn it from creating ¼ of global emissions to a carbon sink

Visit the SME Climate Hub

SMEs represent ~90% of all businesses globally. Supporting SMEs to cut their emissions is key to net zero.

Read IEA's Global EV Outlook 2023

EV sales hit 10 million in 2022 and are expected to grow by another 35% in 2023.

Get the latest insights from our Corporate Climate Stocktake

Mid-mile distribution electric trucks will reach total cost of operation parity with ICE trucks by 2027.

Get the latest insights from our Corporate Climate Stocktake

75% of European and North American business leaders say they can shift away from blast furnace steel by 2050.

Get more insights from Ecosystem Marketplace

Companies engaged in the voluntary carbon market spend three times more on emissions reduction activities.

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Fossil to Clean

Conditions are aligning for a historic shift. For the first time, at COP27, more than 80 countries rallied behind a call to phase-out all fossil fuels. In 2023, the EU and G7 committed to promote a global phase-out of unabated fossil fuels. 

Over 200 companies representing $1.5 trillion in global revenue are urging national governments to address the primary cause of climate change: burning fossil fuels.  Decisive action by business can help embolden policymakers to enact policies for phasing in clean solutions and phasing out fossil fuels on a science-based timeline.

 

Business action

Every business can act. Every business is a catalyst for change. Don’t wait for too late. 

Tools and resources

Get the latest insights from our Corporate Climate Stocktake

The Corporate Climate Stocktake offers a unique snapshot of corporate climate action today across 8 sectors

Visit the SME Climate Hub

The SME Climate Hub empowers small to medium sized companies to take climate action and build resilience

Find out more about the Supplier Cascade

The Supplier Cascade gives companies a manageable way to cut Scope 3 emissions with Tier 1 supplier engagement

Learn about the 4 A's of Climate Leadership

Accelerate your climate journey with our step-by-step guide

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With thanks to all our COP28 Business Pavilion Sponsors and Supporting Partners

COP28 sponsors and partners

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COP27 Pavilion

Learn more about last year's Pavilion and its events.

COP27 Pavilion
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