The Independent's Climate Newsletter
World leaders walk down Al Wasl after the group photo on Friday morning at Cop28 summit (Credit: Reuters) | | |
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 second day of Cop28 began with a coterie of world leaders taking a morning stroll together down the Expo City venue's flag-lined boulevard.
But that was where the moment of unity ended as one by one they took to the stage in the packed Al Waha auditorium to deliver clashing visions of how to navigate the climate crisis.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres directly challenged "fossil fuel leaders" to change their ways, saying: "Your old world is rapidly failing."
"The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate," he added.
It came a day after Cop28 president Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, CEO of the UAE national oil company, Adnoc, contended that there was a role for oil and gas in the future.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with apparent criticism of the West for its role in creating much of the emissions that have caused the climate crisis.
"We do not have much time to correct the mistakes of the last century," he said. "Over the past century, a small section of humanity has indiscriminately exploited nature. However, entire humanity is paying the price for this, especially people living in the global south."
The first foreign dignitary to speak was King Charles III, a passionate environmentalist now constrained by royal protocol. Still, he appealed to world leaders to make this Cop count.
"I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be another critical turning point for genuine transformational action," the King said.
The monarch's message contrasted with that of his Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who defended watering down the UK's net-zero policies, and insisted that Britain is still "leading the charge" on climate during a flying visit to Dubai on Friday via private jet.
Mr Sunak told the crucial global conference that "climate politics is close to breaking point" – but also claimed he would only cut emissions in a way that "benefits the British people".
Also on Friday:
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- The UAE announced a $30bn fund for global climate solutions
- Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva calls on world leaders to 'act together beyond our borderlines'
India's PM Narendra Modi proposes India host Cop33 in 2028 - Italy pledges 100million euros to the "Loss and Damage" fund
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"The science is clear, The 1.5 degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning fossil fuels — not reduce, not abate, [but rather] phase out with a clear time frame aligned with 1.5 degrees." |
UN Secretary General António Guterres said on Friday addressing world leaders |
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Sunak was grilled on whether he was taking Cop28 seriously, given he would be spending more time travelling on his private jet – 14 hours to and from the UAE – than negotiating at the summit. The UK prime minister – spending only 11 hours in Dubai – fired back at the "hugely simplistic" idea. Read more |
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