We’re a week into the 28th Conference of the Parties, the UN’s annual climate summit, held this year in the city of Dubai. This year is the “global stocktake” where countries are supposed to show how far they’ve come in meeting the carbon reduction targets they set in Paris seven years ago. And the news isn’t good.

“Countries are still failing,” says Claire Stockwell, senior climate policy analyst at Climate Analytics, and lead author on the latest report from Climate Action Tracker, the premier, independent body for comparing how promises stack up against reality. 

“The targets and actions the governments put on the table have stalled. It's essentially the same report we put out three years ago in Glasgow. And so we need, at this meeting, governments to commit to a lot more ambitious action and targets, and that's going to start with making sure that in the final decision they agree to phasing out fossil fuels.”

So far more than 100 countries have called for an immediate end to all new oil and gas production and clear end dates for fossil fuel production. And more than 110 countries have pledged to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. 

The leaders of the two biggest emitters, the U.S. and China, are notably not attending this year, though both countries have high-level representatives at the summit. 

We spent a good portion of our show last week on the controversy around Sultan Al Jaber as COP28 president. And it seems like the fossil fuel industry has a larger presence at this conference than ever before. The CEO of ExxonMobil came to one of these conferences for the first time. 

There has been some progress from the industry, though far from enough: ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco — two of the world's biggest oil companies — are leading a pledge to reach near-zero methane emissions by 2030. They've gotten dozens of other companies to sign on to it. And there's a satellite that will actually measure the leaking, to keep them honest.

Last year at COP27, one of the biggest outcomes was the creation of a loss and damage fund for rich nations to help pay poorer countries for the climate impacts their emissions have caused. As of this writing, country pledges are over $700 million, a bright spot in the early part of the conference.  

This week we’re featuring a few of the thousands of people who have traveled to COP28 to share their stories and pressure heads of state to be more aggressive in cutting climate-harming emissions. Those include a woman from Sudan who fled armed conflict with her baby, a Kenyan woman haunted by seeing animal carcasses by the side of the road in her country, and an Indigenous woman who did a crowdfunding campaign to get here. 

“The young generation is not the generation that caused climate change. But it's the generation that will have to deal with the [con]sequences of climate change. Yet we are not the ones making the decisions,” says Sudanese Climate Activist Nisreen Elsaim. 

These women have traveled thousands of miles to this UN climate summit in Dubai to share their experiences — and have their voices heard.

“Representation of Indigenous people is always a good thing, but it's not enough. I should be included for participation. I should be included to make sure that my demands are being heard. And I should be included to make sure that the next generation are also at the table,” says Chautuileo Tranamil, co-founder of Indigenous Liberation and Aralez.

Related Links:

Climate Target Update Tracker

Hali Hewa Podcast

This week on Folk Alley, join Elena See for some December holiday favorites to help get us in the spirit... not. Hear music by Slaid Cleaves, Gangstagrass, Indigo Girls, Béla Fleck, and Jay Ungar & Molly Mason; plus, more songs from the results of our Best of 2023 Listener Poll! See who made this list!

In hour two, hear the latest from Guy Forsyth; more songs for the season from Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Over the Rhine, Fred Eaglesmith & Tif Ginn, and Beth // James,; we remember Shane MacGowan of the Pogues who passed away on November 30; plus, favorites from Blaze Foley, Elephant Revival, David Surrette, Seamus Egan with Moira Smiley & Kaia Kater, and more.

What would it feel like to live in a world where our built environment was as elegant as nature's designs? What if our living and working spaces nurtured our human communities and quality of life? Architect and designer Jason F. McLennan takes the revolution from the heart of nature and the human heart into our built environment. He is shifting the fateful civilizational inflection point we face - from degradation to regeneration - from fear to love.

SHOW 989 (Air Dates: Dec 12 - 18, 2023) To continue our 20th year on the air, we revisit our interview with Jorma Kaukonen. In a career that has already spanned a half-century, Jorma has been one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots and blues music. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a lifetime Grammy recipient, he is a founding member of two legendary bands, Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna.

This month on Climate Connections:

Air Date            Title:

Mon., 11/27 - Scientists show direct link between polluting companies and wildfires in North America: Carbon pollution from 88 major fossil fuel producers and cement makers has left the western U.S. and Canada hotter, drier, and more prone to fires, a recent study finds. 

Tue., 11/28 - What it was like to be a volunteer firefighter during the 2023 Canada fires: Firefighters are experiencing climate change firsthand as hot, dry conditions boost the risks of fire.

Wed., 11/29 - Could your library do this? A California library is helping people try e-bikes for free: The program makes getting an e-bike pass as easy as checking out a book.

Thu., 11/30 - More than a year later, the emotional impacts from Hurricane Ian still linger: Many survivors of weather disasters benefit from mental health support.

Fri., 12/1 - ‘A culture of repair’: Students learn to mend clothes and the planet: A San Francisco after-school program is helping teens upcycle thrifted clothes.

Mon., 12/4 - More than a dozen Illinois schools add EVs to driver’s ed: They’re helping teens get comfortable with the cars of the future.

Tue., 12/5 - ‘Ridiculous’: Florida couple’s insurance premiums shoot up to $11,000 a year as hurricanes intensify: Some insurance companies have pulled out of Florida, leaving homeowners scrambling.

Wed., 12/6 - ‘It’s very, very concerning’: Antarctica meltdown left penguin chicks drowned, frozen: Emperor penguins could be in trouble as sea ice declines.

Thu., 12/7 - More than 3 million U.S. workers have clean energy jobs, report finds: The jobs can be found in construction, manufacturing, and other sectors, not just in solar and wind.

Fri., 12/8 - Telehealth can help rural and underserved kids access care: That’s important because climate change is worsening health conditions like asthma.

Mon., 12/11 - A South Dakota technical college wants to train students to repair EVs and hybrids: The auto repair industry is changing rapidly.

Tue., 12/12 - Flying was his dream. Now he wants to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel: Former pilot Todd Smith cofounded Safe Landing, a group of aviation workers who want to slow the industry’s growth.

Wed., 12/13 - As temperatures rise, so do Georgia ER visits for venomous snake bites: Researchers found that the odds of a hospital visit due to a snake bite increase almost 6% when temperatures are about two degrees warmer than normal.

Thu., 12/14 - A massive Christmas light display, eco-friendly style: Thanks to a rooftop solar array, this Vancouver couple can celebrate the holiday without running up an expensive power bill.

Fri., 12/15 - ‘Polar bear 911’: How a Canadian town deals with its hungry bear population: Conflicts between humans and polar bears could become more frequent as Arctic sea ice declines.

Mon., 12/18 - Three tips for saving money and staying warm this winter: These are wins for your wallet and the climate.

Tue., 12/19 - NYC startup launches curbside EV charging stations: They’re designed for city drivers who park on the street rather than in driveways or garages.

Wed., 12/20 - Air pollution made Alejandro Daly sick. Now he fights for clean air: He helped train young people to monitor air quality in their communities using low-cost sensors.

Thu., 12/21 - It’s getting easier to rent an EV on your next vacation: Car rental companies offer a low-stakes way to try out an electric vehicle for the first time.

Fri., 12/22 - Black Girl Environmentalist is highlighting the contributions of Black women in the climate movement: Wawa Gatheru started the organization as an Instagram page. It’s grown to nationwide workshops and events.