Dubai: This has been an interesting start to COP28. After the UAE president – Mohamed Bin Zayed’s opening speech, his father and the first president of the UAE – Sheikh Zayed bin Nahyan appeared on stage to give an address.
The organisers have used 3D-hologram technology to bring to life the deceased Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE, on stage at the opening of the climate summit.
Later, the UK’s King Charles III addressed the conference, in which he urges world leaders gathered in Dubai to make the COP28 climate summit a “turning point”.
The monarch warned that despite some progress “we remain so dreadfully far off track”.
He called for “genuine transformational action”, a day after the meeting opened with stark warnings on global warming.
"Make this COP count.
— COP28 UAE (@COP28_UAE) December 1, 2023
Make this COP a game-changer.
Make this COP the new hope in the future of humankind."
– UN Secretary-General António Guterres @antonioguterres pic.twitter.com/C2fWTN3qer
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said world leaders “cannot save a burning planet with a fire hose of fossil fuels.”
Meanwhile, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announces a $30bn (£23.7bn) fund for “global climate solutions.”
It follows an unexpected early agreement on Thursday, countries committed $420 m to a fund for nations suffering the effects of climate change.
Greenhouse gas emissions causing the Earth to heat up are still rising, but scientists say they must be nearly halved in the next seven years.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has arrived at Dubai Expo City to participate in the high-level segment of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) of the United Nations.
The Prime Minister was received by President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres.
The Prime Minister will attend the opening session of World Climate Action Summit.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Prime Minister is expected to meet the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and Estonia, today.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will also participate in the Zayed sustainability award ceremony.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Caretaker Federal Minister for Climate Change Ahmed Irfan Aslam and Caretaker Energy Minister Muhammad Ali are also participating in COP 28.
