Representatives from almost every country in the world will meet this Thursday in Dubai at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), where the first global assessment of eight years of climate action will be made.
Until December 12, the United Arab Emirates, one of the main oil producers, will host thousands of people from around the world at the so-called climate summit, to discuss climate change and the fight against global warming.
One of the main highlights of COP28 will be the holding of the first meeting to take stock of what has been done to combat global warming, as a result of the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, approved in 2015 at COP21.
It will be the first test for the countries, in light of the agreement that imposed as objectives the reduction of emissions and the limitation of the increase in global temperatures to two degrees Celsius (ºC) and, if possible, 1.5 ºC above the average values. from the prehistoric-industrial era.
From previous summits, the debate on mitigation and adaptation to climate change returns, and progress is expected in these areas, in addition to the formalization of the “loss and damage” mechanism, approved at last year’s summit in Egypt but not yet operational.
Leaders from almost all the countries in the world are expected at COP28, including the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, who arrives in Dubai this Thursday and will participate in the summit on Friday and Saturday, and on the remaining days the Government will be represented by the Minister of Environment and Climate Action and secretaries of State from different sectors.
Portugal will have, for the first time, an autonomous pavilion (until now it participated as part of the representation of the European Union), where it will host more than three dozen initiatives during the summit.
This would also be the first summit with the participation of the leader of the Catholic Church, but Pope Francis canceled the trip to Dubai, by medical order, due to the flu and lung inflammation that affected him.
In addition to the main themes, several thematic days and parallel events are planned, dedicated to topics such as health, finance, energy, urbanization, transport, youth, decarbonization, oceans, water, agriculture or energy.
The last climate conference was held in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, with unambitious results.
Expectations are low again, largely due to the fact that COP28 will be chaired by Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry of the United Arab Emirates and president of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, since a few days before the start of the conference was once again embroiled in controversy, after documents were made public revealing that meetings prepared by Sultan Al Jaber before meetings with foreign government representatives systematically contained key points about the two companies he runs.
Without questioning the authenticity of the documents, the official denied attempting to use his position to promote UAE oil and energy projects in several countries.
Source: TSF
