The COP28 climate change conference, which concluded last month in Dubai, constituted an effective platform for achieving climate ambitions and promoting sustainable economic and social development to ensure the best interests of present and future generations. It also provided the opportunity for all countries, sectors and groups within society to cooperate and unify their efforts, especially at a time when the importance and necessity of global climate action is growing. The US had an essential role to play through its high-level delegation, which included Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, in addition to senior officials from more than 20 American ministries, agencies and organizations, most notably Samantha Power, who is director of the US Agency for International Development. The delegation participated in discussions on the many challenges surrounding climate change, including its repercussions for human rights and how to find solutions and alternatives by relying on clean and renewable energy. The delegation also reviewed opportunities for sustainable economic development. It is worth noting that COP28 aimed to continue the work to limit the rise in global temperatures in the long term to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This target was agreed by nearly 200 countries in Paris in 2015 in an effort to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change. It seemed remarkable that the role of the US in the COP28 conference was focused on three key areas. Firstly, Washington allocated $53 million for new low-carbon, climate-resilient activities in 23 cities in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, as the world’s urban areas are responsible for three-quarters of the planet’s total carbon dioxide emissions and are home to more than half of the world’s population. This funding will expand and complement the ongoing work to achieve a resilient, low-carbon future. It seemed remarkable that the role of the US in the COP28 conference was focused on three key areas Maria Maalouf Secondly, the US mobilized $2.3 billion from private sector investments to combat climate change as part of President Joe Biden’s initiative for early warning systems projects, climate change-resistant food infrastructure and new financial products. USAID announced that 21 companies, including IBM and Visa, had committed to help finance Biden’s initiative, which is known as the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience. They joined the 10 founding members that were announced in 2022 during the COP27 conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Third was the establishment of a loss and damage fund. This matter was unanimously approved on the first day of the COP28 conference by delegates from 160 countries. They pledged to provide more than $400 million to support countries that are most impacted by climate change. The UAE said it would provide $100 million to establish the fund, with Germany promising the same. The UK pledged $75 million, Japan $10 million and America only $17.5 million. Criticism of this pledge came from Chinese state newspaper The Global Times, which stated that Washington should feel ashamed by the very modest figure it announced. It can be concluded that the American efforts at COP28 focused on the need to decarbonize the transport sector through electric vehicles and better public transport, while also working to make buildings produce net-zero emissions by raising their energy efficiency and using clean energy sources. Washington also seeks to accelerate the use of innovative adaptation solutions. Maria Maalouf is a Lebanese journalist, broadcaster, publisher, and writer. X: @bilarakib