At U.N. climate talks, world leaders to pledge and plead on second day of leaders’ summit

COP28 refers to the 28th annual United Nations conference on climate change, where world leaders discuss and strategize on addressing the climate crisis.

About 150 of the world’s top decision-makers, including presidents, prime ministers, and representatives from various nations, attend COP28 to discuss climate-related issues.

The primary objectives of COP28 are to reduce heat-trapping emissions, promote renewable energy, and enhance energy efficiency to combat climate change effectively.

Both Presidents Biden and Xi did not attend COP28 in person, but Vice President Kamala Harris represented the United States. Their absence reflects the high-level nature of the conference.

Harris’s participation marks the first time since COP3 in 1997 that a U.S. vice president has led the American delegation at a COP summit.

Guterres stressed the urgency of addressing climate change, highlighting its impact on the planet’s vital signs and its role in exacerbating issues like inequality and conflicts.

Secretary-General Guterres strongly criticized the use of fossil fuels and called for their elimination to limit global warming to the 1.5-degree Celsius goal set in the Paris Agreement.

While some nations called for a “phase-down” of fossil fuels, others, including 106 nations in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, advocated for a full exit from fossil fuel use.

The more than 190 countries participating in the conference will work towards reaching an agreement on climate action and fossil fuel reduction measures.