The Independent's Climate Newsletter
Saturday, December 2, 2023 | |
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Kamala Harris speaks at a press conference held on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai (Credit: Reuters) |
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Welcome to a special newsletter from The Independent, bringing you the latest on everything from Cop28 in Dubai. You are receiving this email because you are signed up to our Climate newsletter.
The curtain has closed on the second day of speeches by the heads of states marked by a big show from the US to claim climate leadership – despite the US president's absence –and a flurry of pledges.
Kamala Harris took centre stage today making up for the absence of Joe Biden, announcing a $3bn contribution to the so-called Green Climate Fund, meant for developing countries to fight the climate crisis.
But how much of this pledge actually reaches the fund is yet to be seen. The US previously made a $3bn pledge under Barack Obama, but only one-third of the amount made its way to the fund.
Harris also used the centre stage to take a dig at "leaders who deny climate science, delay climate action and spread misinformation."
She is the highest ranking official to come to this year's climate summit, after the US received flak from climate groups for Joe Biden's absence and an "embarrassing" just $17.5m announced for the newly created Loss and Damage fund.
Harris told the conference that the US supports phasing out of "unabated coal" use, but she did not mention other fossil fuels, an omission that has remained a sticking point in the climate talks over the years. It will remain a large focus at this year's conference.
Meanwhile, outside the massive and tightly guarded venue of Expo City, young protestors are starting to make their presence felt.
Activists from Fridays For Future confronted US climate envoy John Kerry to "commit to fossil fuel phaseout".
Among the announcements, the most consequential was the deal signed by 110 countries to triple renewable energy by 2030.
This is the most widely supported deal so far at the summit and was welcomed by climate groups. But over the next few days, nations will discuss whether this can make it to the final global agreement.
Other highlights from the summit:
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- 50 energy firms representing around 40 of global oil output vowed to cut methane emissions from their operations by 2030, but activists slam the move as a 'smokescreen'
- The US joined a pact to commit not building any new coal plants and phasing out existing plants by 2035
- More than 20 nations signed a declaration aiming to triple nuclear power capacity by 2050
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"The destruction of the environment is an offence against God. I make this heartfelt appeal: Let us choose life! Let us choose the future! " |
Pope Francis says in a letter addressed to world leaders at Cop28 |
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This is the total amount of pledges made so far for the newly created Loss and Damage fund. Read more |
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