The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, announced on Friday, December 1, the creation of a private fund dedicated to “solutions” in the face of climate change, opening the summit of world leaders at the 28th United Nations climate conference. “I am pleased to announce the creation of a fund with 30 billion dollars [environ 27,5 milliards d’euros]“, declared the sovereign from the podium, adding that the objective was to reach 250 billion dollars (230 billion euros) by 2030. The day after the opening of this COP28, more than 140 heads of States are expected at the podium. Follow our live stream.
King Charles III calls for “a turning point”. “Records are broken so often that we become numb to what they tell us”declared Charles III, this is his first presence at a COP as sovereign. “I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another turning point for real transformation”he added, also listing the cyclones which devastated vulnerable islands including Vanuatu, the floods in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, or the record fires from the United States to Greece.
Emmanuel Macron expected at the podium in the afternoon. The Head of State arrived in Dubai to participate in COP28. He must take an initiative to encourage emerging countries to abandon coal as quickly as possible, designated by Paris as enemy number one in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming. He will speak publicly Friday afternoon during a plenary session. Emmanuel Macron’s agenda also includes an event on civil nuclear power and talks on the ongoing violent conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Iranian president absent from the event. Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi will not go to COP28 in Dubai because Israel was invited to participate against a backdrop of war in the Gaza Strip, announces the official Irna agency. Iran will be represented by its Minister of Energy.