World Leaders Gather for Pivotal Day Two of U.N. Climate Summit

The pivotal United Nations climate summit, COP28, enters its second day with world leaders set to continue their urgent calls for decisive climate action. Following a first day marked by recognition of an increasingly imperiled Earth, Saturday’s agenda is expected to further lay the groundwork for substantial measures in the ensuing sessions.

Friday saw a host of global leaders, including presidents, prime ministers, and royalty, convene to discuss strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their collective message underscored the urgency of collaborative efforts to prevent an escalating climate emergency, particularly poignant in the year 2023.

Approximately 150 key global decision-makers are present, with the initial day’s speeches extending into Saturday. Over 60 countries are yet to present their statements before the conference, scheduled to run until December 12, transitions into its primary phase of negotiations.

Notably absent are the leaders of the world’s two largest polluters: President Joe Biden of the United States and President Xi Jinping of China. Vice President Kamala Harris is slated to represent the U.S. on Saturday, a significant representation not seen since Vice President Al Gore’s participation at COP3 in Kyoto in 1997. Subsequent summits, particularly during President George W. Bush’s administration, saw lower-level U.S. participation.

COP summits have gained increasing significance over the years. President Barack Obama attended several during his tenure, while President Donald Trump’s administration participated minimally following the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. President Joe Biden marked his presence at both COP26 in Glasgow and COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh.

The summit’s commencement on Friday featured a compelling address by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Drawing from his recent experiences witnessing the effects of climate change in Antarctica and Nepal, Guterres emphasized the dire state of the planet, urging leaders to act decisively to avoid a “planetary crash and burn.” He highlighted the exacerbating effects of climate change on global inequality and conflict, including the renewed hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

Guterres also pointed to the broader impact of climate change on economic and social stability, noting its role in escalating costs of living and energy crises. He stressed the potential of climate action in reversing these trends.

King Abdullah of Jordan linked the ongoing war in Gaza with climate change, emphasizing the compound effects of environmental challenges on conflict zones. Similarly, Kenya’s President William Ruto described climate change as a central issue of the current era, echoing the summit’s goals of significantly increasing renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.

However, debates surrounding fossil fuel dependency remain contentious. Guterres, a vocal critic of fossil fuel reliance, delivered a potent critique against the industry, including the summit’s host, the United Arab Emirates. He called for a complete phase-out of oil, coal, and gas to achieve the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The summit’s president released a document advocating a “phase-down” of fossil fuels, a stance less stringent than a full phase-out, which has been demanded by over 100 countries across Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The challenge lies in reaching a consensus among the over 190 participating nations, as noted by the conference’s Director General Majid Al Suwaidi.

Reported by Jon Gambrell for Big Big News, this coverage is part of AP’s climate initiative and is supported by various private foundations. The AP maintains full editorial responsibility for all content.

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• Fossil Fuel Debate at COP28 Summit
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