I'm writing to you from Dubai, which is where COP28—the United Nations' annual meeting on climate change—is currently taking place. We just wrapped up the first day, and it was an exciting, productive, and inspiring start. The energy in the room was just amazing, especially from the young activists whose passion sets the tone for every COP.
I participated in a number of super-interesting sessions today; one of my favorites focused on food security, which the Gates Foundation is tackling head-on as a warming planet threatens to make the issue even worse. It's remarkable to see how climate adaptation has been elevated at COP in recent years. I'm going to spend a lot of time over the next few days talking about why we need to do more to help the people who are most vulnerable to climate change.
I was honored to close out the first day of the conference by addressing COP28 delegates at the World Climate Action Summit. My remarks took place during a session dedicated to the important role business and philanthropic leaders play in fighting climate change—something I recently wrote about for The New York Times. In my speech, I spoke about the need to direct climate investment towards projects that maximize the number of lives impacted.
You can read the full text of my speech on Gates Notes now. (And if you missed my post earlier this week, you can read more about why I'm feeling optimistic about the days ahead at COP28—and about the future—here .)
ISO will convene policymakers, business leaders and civil society to advance climate action at the 28th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28) at Expo City Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This year, the focus is on priority action areas including industry decarbonization and net zero, energy transition, and innovative finance. "The Standards Pavilion by ISO" will feature onsite in the Blue Zone to foster the understanding and adoption of International Standards as a key tool to accelerate climate action across sectors.
And there's more – ISO is also part of the official UNFCCC and COP28 Presidency side event programmes.
The Standards Pavilion by ISO will be a hub for engaging sessions, offering insights into the ISO standards portfolio supporting sustainability practices and climate initiatives. It will serve as the global stage for 16 sessions, some of which will be livestreamed.
When: 30 November to 12 December Where: Expo City Dubai, Blue Zone, Opportunity District near the entrance of Thematic Arena 3
A new ISO technical specification on hydrogen technologies will be presented at a ministerial roundtable organized by the COP28 Presidency on 5 December. ISO/TS 19870 provides a methodology for determining the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, conditioning and transport of hydrogen to the consumption gate. This new technical specification underscores ISO's role in supporting sustainable and innovative energy solutions.
Join the global movement on social media advocating for International Standards to accelerate climate action. Access our COP28 promotional toolkit for eye-catching graphics and compelling captions. Use #ClimateStandards to be part of the global conversation and drive positive change. Your voice matters – let's make a difference together!