Gathering of global leaders at the venue added to the chaos that was there since the beginning
Allegations of gross mismanagement have been made about the 28th Conference of Parties (COP 28) to the United Nations Framework Convention Climate that started on November 30, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The alleged mismanagement seemed to have peaked on December 1 as global leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, started arriving at Dubai Expo City 2020 leading to subsequent imposition of stronger restrictions by the organisers.
Several civil society representatives, observers and even official members of country delegations had to wait more than an hour on average to enter the venue, which should not take more than 10 minutes under normal circumstances. As a result, various meetings had to be postponed or cancelled.
“We have a daily coordination meeting at 9 am. That had to be pushed back on Friday as many could not reach the venue in time as delegates were made to walk in spirals for over half a kilometre and queues became longer,” Sanjay Vashist, director of Climate Action Network South Asia told this reporter.
“Personally, I had to wait for about an hour. I was made to walk about half a kilometre and asked to enter the blue zone from a point close to the green zone. The blue zone is the one with maximum security as it holds the official negotiation. I missed my meeting,” said Vashist.
“It is extremely frustrating. We are being made to walk in circles. The organisers should have an idea about the footfall and decide accordingly. I have missed an important meeting,” said a country delegate from Germany, requesting anonymity.
Sohanur Rahman, a youth delegate, also made a similar complaint.
“I have been covering climate summits for several years but have hardly seen such a level of mismanagement. It was a bad kickoff in Sharm El Sheikh. It is poorer here,” said an observer.
“It is amazing as it was claimed before the event that the summit would be smooth since the venue has enormous experience in organising such big-ticket events,” the observer, who found that the facility to provide conference kits and transport cards have all been closed, added.
“I was told that it is closed today for the leaders’ summit. I do not know how they are related,”the person remarked.
When this journalist asked a representative of the COP organising committee to comment on the alleged mismanagement, he refused: “I cannot talk about this. Everything is being decided at high levels.”
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