Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE president of Cop28, is addressing the conference now urging delegates to be flexible and to work together during the negotiations. He says it is essential global south countries do not have to chose between development and climate action. “let this be the Cop when we deliver on our promises [of financial support to the those in the global south]” he told delegates.
He says the next two weeks will not be easy, adding everyone understands the gravity of the situation now they need to accelerate progress and push a “positive can do attitude.”
“Let’s delivery some good news to the world.”
While we are waiting for day 2 of Cop28 to get going this is good read on what it is all about and why it matters from my colleague Fiona Harvey
While we are waiting for day 2 of Cop28 to get going this is good read on what it is all about and why it matters from my colleague Fiona Harvey
Damian Carrington
My colleague Damian Carrington reports that the arrival of the world’s leaders at today’s conference is adding an extra challenge for delegates.. . and journalists.
Cops are always a marathon for delegates, long days and long walks around the huge sites. But today is an ultra-marathon for the thousands of attendees. The short walk from the metro to the venue was blocked off, a security mounted for the world leaders arriving today. That meant a trek in the sun to even enter the site. And once in, more barricades have been erected to cordon off the presidents and prime ministers, turning 5 minute trots into 30 minute slogs.
World leaders and assorted dignitaries are due to fly in to Cop28 today including UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles. My colleague Alehta Adu is with the prime minister and says he has just touched down.
The king, a long time campaigner on climate issues, is due to give a “call to arms” in his opening statement to the conference. Sunak on the other hand will have his work cut out defending a series of policy moves – including a decision to push ahead with new oil and gas licences in the north sea – that have been widely condemned by climate experts and campaigners.
Good morning. This is Matthew Taylor, on the second day of the Conference of Parties 28th climate change summit, or Cop28.
The Guardian will be liveblogging the negotiations throughout, as always, and we look forward to your contributions: please email me on [email protected] with thoughts and suggestions. Helena Horton ([email protected]) will be taking over later on.
Today will see the formal opening ceremony, where the world’s leaders will be addressing the conference. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is flying in from the UK, as is the leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer.
Yesterday saw significant developments at the conference as a deal on a fund for loss and damage was finally done after many years of discussion; we lost count of the number of people who called it historic.
A quick summary of yesterday’s events with the loss and damage fund to help countries deal with the impacts of climate breakdown the big news of the day;
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The UAE immediately pledged $100m to the fund, and was followed by contributions from the EU, led by Germany, the UK, the US and Japan, though the US in particular were criticised for their relatively modest pledge
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The World Meteorological Organization said that 2023 would be the hottest year ever recorded. UN secretary-general António Guterres responded to the news by saying “We are living through climate collapse in real time”
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A representative of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said coal is, and will continue to be, an important part of India’s energy needs
Let’s see what today brings.
