Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 1, landed in UAE to participate in the World Climate Action Summit of COP-28 in Dubai, aimed at fostering global collaboration on climate change.
Upon Prime Minister Modi's arrival, he was welcomed at the airport by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The three leaders engaged in warm interactions, exchanging handshakes and cordial greetings, even posing for a photograph together. During his approximately 21-hour stay in Dubai, PM Modi is scheduled for seven bilateral meetings, four speeches, and participation in two special climate events on the sidelines of the Summit, according to officials.
The event, hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), holds significance as the nation has been a crucial partner for India in climate action, with PM Modi expressing gratitude for the UAE's invitation. The role of COP28 President has been assigned to Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who holds the position of Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and serves as the United Arab Emirates Special Envoy for Climate Change.
Following the opening speech by UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed, surprisingly, the first president of the UAE, Late Sheikh Zayed bin Nahyan, took the stage to deliver an address. Utilising advanced 3D-hologram technology, organisers brought to life the late Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's founding father, during the opening of the climate summit.
King Charles, while addressing the crowd during the opening ceremony, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak at the opening of COP21 in Paris, a historic event leading to the Paris Agreement. He said that COP28 will mark another pivotal moment, ushering in transformative actions amid the current alarming reality where scientists have long warned about the attainment of distressing tipping points.
Prime Minister Modi during his speech stated that India is making strides toward accomplishing its Nationally Determined Contribution targets, emphasising India's commitment to triple its renewable energy sources by 2023. He also highlighted that India had successfully achieved its emission intensity-related target 11 years ago. PM Modi conveyed that India has presented a developmental model to the world, effectively balancing ecology and economy. He pointed out that despite constituting 17% of the global population, India's share of global carbon emissions remains below 4%.
COP 28, the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), serves as a crucial platform for worldwide discussions on climate crisis solutions.
With over 70,000 expected attendees, including UNFCCC member states, business leaders, scientists, and various stakeholders, COP 28 represents a diverse gathering addressing climate-related challenges.
The conference aims to implement and enhance the Paris Climate Change Agreement, focusing on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
COP 28 discussions will address pressing challenges, including loss and damage finance, global finance goals, energy transition, and narrowing the emissions gap, crucial for mitigating climate change impacts.
The first-ever global stocktake, a process evaluating progress towards Paris Agreement goals, will conclude at COP 28. Decisions made here will influence countries' climate action plans due by 2025.
COP 28 presents an opportunity for different countries to identify global solutions, inform countries' revised climate plans, and expedite the green transition necessary to achieve the Paris Agreement objectives.
The conference includes the formal "blue zone" for official negotiations and sessions managed by UN Climate Change. Additionally, the informal "green zone," managed by the UAE, fosters discussions among civil society actors, artists, and businesses for a net-zero future.
COP events follow a rotational schedule among the five United Nations regional groups: The African Group, the Asia-Pacific Group, the Eastern Europe Group, the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC), and the Western European and Others Group (WEOG). The host government's responsibilities include supplying the venue, facilities, equipment, utilities, and services for COP. Additionally, in the role of the presidency, the host government engages with other nations at various levels, such as ministerial, head-of-delegation, and technical, to foster collaboration and ensure the success of COP 28.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and host of the COP28 climate summit, revealed on Friday the creation of a $30 billion climate fund. The fund, named ALTÉRRA, is designed to support global climate solutions and is targeting an investment inflow of $250 billion by the decade's conclusion. As outlined by the COP28 Presidency's statement, ALTÉRRA will dedicate $25 billion to climate strategies and an additional $5 billion to encourage investments in the Global South.