On Thursday, 30 November 2023, COP28 begins in Dubai, which will be chaired by an oil chief executive. The GAPS Secretariat statement on what COP28 needs to achieve is clear: what has been called for since the very first COP is transformative action towards net zero that puts people before profits. The world can not afford any delays on ambitious and rights-based implementation of the Paris Agreement and a decisive break from fossil fuels. 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record with many extreme and unpredictable weather events. Yet, according to the UNFCCC – the UN body overseeing the Paris Agreement – even if current national pledges are fulfilled, emissions will rise with 8.8% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. This means all states, especially Global North states which carry disproportionate historic and contemporary responsibility for the climate crisis, will fail to uphold their commitments to people and planet.