COP28/Walaa Alshaer attendees at the Indonesia Pavilion during the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said today that the planet's signs of life are declining and that it will take governments to work together and show political will to prevent the planet from collapsing and burning, calling on world leaders gathered in Dubai for COP28 to show true global climate leadership.
Guterres made an impassioned appeal at the high-level opening of the global climate action summit. Over the next two days, world leaders and heads of state and government will meet at Dubai's iconic Al Waha Theatre at Expo City.
Guterres warned that humanity's fate is at stake and that world leaders must act now to end the climate catastrophe.
"Only world leaders can cure the chronic disease of climate catastrophe by ending your dependence on fossil fuels and delivering on your long-overdue climate justice commitments," he urged. I hope that you will make this climate change conference play the important role it deserves. ”
Guterres also welcomed the breakthrough made on Thursday's opening day, where delegates agreed on the operation of the Loss and Damage Fund, which will help the world's most vulnerable countries pay for the devastating impacts of climate disasters.
COP28/Anthony Fleyhan A member of an indigenous community attends the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The venue was bustling with activity
On the second day of the climate conference, world leaders arrived in Expo City to participate in the Action Summit, which was heavily secured and bustling.
Over the next two days, leaders from more than 160 countries, including those from Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Turkey and India, will present their ideas for tackling the climate crisis.
Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, has always had extremely hot weather. December was supposed to be a relatively comfortable month, but thousands of journalists, photographers, event staff and civil society actors were scrambling to find a place in the shade of Expo City to escape the scorching sun.
Indigenous peoples are at the forefront of the impacts of climate change, and their representatives are very active at climate conferences and speak out for climate action. Earlier today, UN News spoke to Jacob Johns, who is committed to using Indigenous knowledge to inform climate policy.
Johns, a Hopi and Akimel Oham, is a member of the U.S. delegation of "Guardians of Indigenous Wisdom."
"We're here to change the minds of the participants and the negotiating team so that we can come together to build a healthy, livable future," he said. We want to see real climate action, and we want to see countries fund climate justice and loss and damage funds, all of which can be used to help indigenous peoples suffering from imminent climate collapse, land loss and extreme weather events. ”
Dangers lurk in many places
Speaking at the conference, Guterres recalled his recent visits to Antarctica and Nepal and noted that he had witnessed firsthand the scale and depth of glacier melting.
"These two places are far apart, but both are dangerous," he said. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg of climate deterioration. ”
Guterres paints a worrying picture of the unfolding climate chaos: global warming is rupturing budgets, driving up food prices, disrupting energy markets, and exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis.
"We are still far from meeting the goals set out in the Paris Agreement, and the remaining time to meet the 1.5°C limit is getting tighter," he said. ”
Time is running out
Guterres stressed that the success of COP28 depends on the results of the "Global Stocktake", the first time countries have assessed progress in curbing global warming, leading the world towards meeting the Paris Agreement's goals on temperature rise, climate finance and climate adaptation.
He pointed out that the Global Stocktake must prescribe a credible treatment for our deteriorating planet in three key areas.
First, drastically reducing emissions, current policies will only allow us to continue on a catastrophic path of 3°C warming this century.
"I urge countries to accelerate their timelines to achieve net zero, with developed countries achieving net zero emissions by 2040 and emerging economies by 2050 as much as possible. ”
Second, accelerate a fair and just energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables, which will only "add fuel to the fire" of our burning planet.
"Only when we finally stop burning all fossil fuels will it be possible to achieve the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C, not to reduce, not to slow down, but to phase out, with a clear time frame based on the 1.5°C limit. ”
In addition, countries need to take concrete action to triple renewable energy capacity, double energy efficiency, and make clean energy available to all by 2030.
Third, deliver on long-overdue climate finance commitments to achieve climate justice for an unequal and unjust world, including by increasing finance for adaptation and operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund.
He urged developed countries to double funding to support adaptation action to $40 billion by 2025, detailing how they plan to meet their commitment to provide $100 billion a year to developing countries for climate action.
COP28/Christophe Viseux Isabel Prestes da Fonseca, representative of indigenous communities in Brazil, speaks at the World Climate Action Summit at COP28.
"People-Centered Strategy"
"As a citizen of a small island developing States, I am acutely aware that our current trajectory will only lead to the extinction of these islands and the rich culture and history they represent," said Francis, President of the United Nations General Assembly from Trinidad and Tobago. ”
Indeed, Trinidad and Tobago is facing the threat of rapidly rising sea levels.
He pointed out that "3°C is not a science fiction plot, but the outcome of our current development path. "If the current trend continues, the world could face a "dead end" of 3°C compared to the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting 1.5°C of warming.
Francis highlighted the need for a "just transition to sustainable energy" and the need for "more accessible and accessible" financing for climate adaptation action.
He mentioned that all countries are dealing with unique crises in their national contexts and urged delegates to learn from these lessons at COP28.
"I urge you to come up with integrated, action-oriented solutions to lead other actors in helping them reimagine local, national, and regional policy frameworks, anticipate the risks they will face, prioritize investments, and enable adaptive climate flows, while implementing people-centred strategies," he said. ”
Representatives of indigenous communities struggling to survive under the threat of climate change also attended the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit.
COP28/Christophe Viseux King Charles III of the United Kingdom speaks at the World Climate Action Summit at COP28.
Another "critical turning point"
At the conference, King Charles III recalled the moment when he was invited to speak at the opening of the landmark Paris Climate Change Conference eight years ago, "when countries put aside their differences for the common good." I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another critical turning point. ”
He regretted that the world was off track to meet climate goals, and asked: "How dangerous are we going to make our world? ”
King Charles went on to refer to the effects of climate change on a global scale, including devastating floods in India and Pakistan and severe wildfires in the United States, Canada and Greece.
"Unless we quickly repair and restore our natural and unique economic system, so that the natural systems on which we depend can function in balance and harmony, our economy and survival will be threatened," he said. ”
