On 22 November 2023, Dr. Frederica Fricano (Director at the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and Head of the Italian delegation to the UNFCCC), Professor Benito Müller (ecbi Director and Convener, International Climate Policy, ECI, University of Oxford) and Giacomo Di Capua (Italian YUNGO delegate) spoke at an event at John Cabot University in Rome. The event was organised by Professor Michele Favorite (Director of Italian Admissions, JCU) on challenges of COP 28.
Dr. Fricano provided an overview of the context and the agenda of COP 28 referring in particular to the Global Stocktake, the Global Goal on Adaptation, the Just Transition Work Programme, and operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund.
Panellists with JCU student COP delegation and Professor Favorite
ecbi Director Müller elaborated on a proposal for Climate Solidarity Levies, which he presented in the context of the impending launch by France and Kenya of an international taxation taskforce. According to a recent Climate Home News article, published on 16 November and authored by Matteo Civillini, the taskforce "is planning to consider a broad range of options, including levies on international shipping, aviation, financial transactions and fossil fuels [with] the goal...agree[ing] on specific proposals by COP 30." According to Civillini's article, these proposals "could then be negotiated in relevant international institutions, like the OECD, the UN or the G20." Being naturally sceptical about the feasibility of any global levies, Müller stressed that one way to hit the ground running would be for Taskforce members to simultaneously form an International Climate Solidarity Alliance by voluntarily adopting a Climate Solidarity Levy, such as an air-ticket charge for loss and damage, in their jurisdiction not only to generate funding up front, but also to demonstrate that such innovative sources work.
Giacomo Di Capua, Italian UNFCCC Youth Delegate, then gave an overview of a number of issues important to his constituency, in particular human rights and Indigenous Peoples.
