DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (November 30, 2023) – World leaders, climate experts, and representatives from civil society convened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, today for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The conference, also known as COP28, will run until December 12th and is expected to be a significant milestone in the global effort to combat climate change.
COP28 comes at a critical juncture as the world grapples with the escalating climate crisis. The impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss, are already being felt around the world, and are disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable communities.
The main objectives of COP28 are to:
- Take stock of progress made towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
- Accelerate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support vulnerable countries in adapting to the impacts of climate change.
- Enhance international cooperation on climate finance and technology transfer.
At the opening of the conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world is "on a one-way ticket to disaster" if it fails to take urgent action to address climate change. He urged world leaders to "seize this moment" and demonstrate the political will to tackle the crisis head-on.
COP28 is expected to be a busy and challenging conference, with a packed agenda of negotiations, workshops, and side events. The outcomes of the conference will be crucial in shaping the future of global climate action.
