UK prime minister among world leaders arriving in the UAE for climate talks
World leaders and assorted dignitaries are due to fly in to Cop28 today including UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles. My colleague Alehta Adu is with the prime minister and says he has just touched down.
The king, a long time campaigner on climate issues, is due to give a “call to arms” in his opening statement to the conference. Sunak on the other hand will have his work cut out defending a series of policy moves – including a decision to push ahead with new oil and gas licences in the north sea – that have been widely condemned by climate experts and campaigners.
The UAE immediately pledged $100m to the fund, and was followed by contributions from the EU, led by Germany, the UK, the US and Japan, though the US in particular were criticised for their relatively modest pledge
The World Meteorological Organization said that 2023 would be the hottest year ever recorded. UN secretary-general António Guterres responded to the news by saying “We are living through climate collapse in real time”
A representative of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said coal is, and will continue to be, an important part of India’s energy needs
