Today, on Friday, heads of state and leaders are participating in the plenary session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, "COP28," in the UAE. In a speech, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that "the world needs appropriate political decisions and legislation to address climate change." Guterres stressed that "achieving climate neutrality is essential and not a luxury."
He stated, "The burning of fossil fuels must stop immediately, and reducing its usage will not be sufficient to halt global warming," noting that "we will not reach the 1.5-degree limit unless we ultimately stop burning fossil fuels—not just reduce or cut back." He called on governments to help the sector by making the right decisions through regulatory bodies and legislation, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and imposing extraordinary taxes on profits.
King Charles III remarked that "the world faces climate change risks that scientists warned about a long time ago." He added, "Some countries can no longer bear the consequences of climate change, and I have long warned of the risks of climate change in the world... Eastern Africa has been suffering from drought for decades." He insisted that "we need to strengthen efforts to tackle climate change, within a shared and serious framework, and change will only occur through joint action. Moreover, he emphasized the necessity of private sector participation in funding climate action, stating we have an opportunity to commit to real action for shaping the future and protecting future generations from the repercussions of climate change and safeguarding the planet."
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pointed out that "the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned us that we have until the end of this year to address the problem, which is the hottest year, and humanity is suffering from drought, heat, storms, and hurricanes, leading to widespread destruction and casualties." He stated, "Last year, the world spent more than $2 trillion on weapons, which could have been spent on food and preserving the environment," noting that "the poor are the first to pay the price of change, while the rich cause over 66% of pollution in the world."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi confirmed that "the Egyptian state was keen during the 'COP27' climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh to establish a fund for climate losses and damages." He stated, "We are dealing with climate disasters exceeding the capacity of many countries, and we must commit to what was agreed upon in the Paris climate conference."
Jordanian King Abdullah II warned that "the Palestinian people face a real threat." In his speech at the "COP28" conference, he said, "War makes environmental threats more severe," noting that "the Palestinians have a minimum amount of water, and war exacerbates the risks of water and food scarcity." He emphasized the necessity to "work on reducing carbon emissions."
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to pledge £1.6 billion (approximately $2 billion) during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in an effort to reaffirm the UK's commitment to combating climate change after scaling back efforts to meet harmful emissions targets. Present in Dubai for the summit, Sunak aims to bolster Britain's reputation as a leading country in climate action through new funding primarily for projects in Africa and Asia, focusing on desertification and innovation in energy.
The "COP28" session opened officially on Thursday in Dubai, expected to push for faster reductions in gas emissions and a transition away from fossil fuels.
