COP28 Day 2 top developments: World leaders gather to turn 'agreements into action'

"France announces €100 million commitment to Loss and Damage, helping to accelerate momentum on Day 2 of COP28 and deliver for those communities most vulnerable to climate change. We are encouraged to see global leaders raising ambition and unlock the vital funding to ensure a transformational COP28," the climate event's X handle posted. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from Dubai, UAE after participating in the COP28 World Climate Action Summit. 

At the COP28 climate event, world leaders adopted the 'UAE Declaration on a New Global Climate Finance Framework'.

The declaration includes "elements on, inter alia, delivering on commitments and achieving ambitious outcomes and widening the sources of concessional finance for climate action," 
 

COP28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber while addressing COP28 Transforming Climate Finance Leaders’ Event said, “What we need is a giant leap into the future, in a way that makes sense, and a way that addresses the problem and addresses the real world, through real and practical solutions.” 

While speaking about the Swedish initiative Climate Leap program, Sweden's PM Ulf Kristersson also appreciated India's Green Credits Programme at COP28.

He said, "The Green Credits initiative could lower the thresholds and show how both companies, authorities, and people can take concrete action." 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Sweden's PM Ulf Kristersson, President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and European Council president Charles Michel, launched the web portal of Green Credits Programme at COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, UAE.
 

PM Narendra Modi in a post on X social media platform wrote, "Happy to have met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai."

PM Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation, on 1 December 2023.

The two leaders discussed ways to further deepen their partnership, including cooperation in trade and investment, technology, health, education, IT, tourism and people-to-people ties. Discussions also covered regional and global issues of mutual interest, MEA said in a press release. 
 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the COP 28 Summit in Dubai.

PM Modi apprised Guterres of initiatives taken by India and "progress in achieving climate goals."

UN Chief also lauded "India's efforts in the areas of sustainable development, climate action, MDB reforms, and Disaster management under G20 Presidency" and "welcomed PM’s Green Credit Initiative."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on December 1, on the sidelines of the COP 28 Summit in Dubai. 

While Herzog congratulated Modi on G20 success and welcomed the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, the two leaders "exchanged views on the on-going Israel - Hamas conflict in the region."

"Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages" and "reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population." 

PM Modi also reiterated India’s "support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of Israel Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy." 

Prime Minister invited UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, to be held in India next month. This came as both leaders held meeting on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit.

Modi also thanked Al Nahyan for co-hosting the high-level event on the Green Climate Programme (GCP) at COP-28.
 

France President Emmanuel Macron has called on the G7 countries to 'put an end to coal' by 2030. 

PM Narendra Modi said, "The manner in which we give importance to our Health Card in life, we have to similarly start thinking in the context of environment. We will have to see what is to be done to add positive points to Earth's Health Card. I think this is what Green Credit is..."

PM Narendra Modi in a post on X wrote, "Met PM Giorgia Meloni of Italy on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit. Looking forward to collaborative efforts between India and Italy for a sustainable and prosperous future."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking at the high-level event on the Green Credits Programme at the COP28 World Climate Action Summit, said, "I have always felt that the purview of carbon credit is very limited. In a way, this philosophy is influenced by the commercial element. I have seen a major lack of a sense of social responsibility in the system of carbon credit. We will have to emphasize on a new philosophy in a holistic manner and that is the foundation of Green Credit."

UAE, which is hosting the COP28 Summit has pledged USD 200 million to IMF Resilience and Sustainability Trust. COP28's official handle on X (formerly Twitter) said that 'such concessional financing' will have 'huge impact on building climate resilience in the most vulnerable countries and communities'.

COP28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber has released COP28 UAE Declaration of Leaders on a Global Climate Finance Framework. The declaration seeks to prepare a roadmap for future of climate finance.

UAE, which is hosting COP28, has release an Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes, together with the World Business Council on Sustainable Development and the Boston Consulting Group.

The agenda will see prominent food and agriculture organisations to join hands to scale up regenrative agriculture.

UK King Charles the Third is addressing the summit

"In 2050, our grandchildren won't be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didn't do," he said.

"If we act together  to safeguard our precious planet, the welfare of all our people will surely follow," he added.

"I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action," he said during his speech.

"We are seeing alarming tipping points being reached."

UK PM Rishi Sunak said that his country is committing £1.6 billion for international climate finance projects that will protect forests, encourage private investment, and back renewables. 

"The UK has decarbonised faster than any other G7 country. But we can’t stop there. That’s why I’m at @COP28_UAE, to work with countries to tackle climate change," he wrote in a post on X social media platform. 
 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, while addressing the COP28 summit, urged the world leaders to make this year's climate summit "count."

"Make this COP count. Make this COP a game-changer. Make this COP the new hope in the future of humankind," Guterres said. 

From the COP28 stage, Indian PM Modi announced the Green Credit initiative, a unique program introduced by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in October. 

"Today, from this forum, I announce one more pro-planet, pro-active and positive initiative - Green Credit initiative..." PM Modi said. 
 

Indian PM Modi told world leaders that India has set the target to bring down emissions intensity by 45 percent by 2030.

"We have decided to increase the share of non-fossil fuel to 50 percent. We will also keep going ahead towards our goal of net zero by 2070," he added. 
 

As the climate change crisis plagues the world, Indian PM Narendra Modi said that the country is "committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process."

"That is why, from this stage, I propose to host the COP33 Summit in India in 2028," he told the gathered leaders at the annual climate summit. 
 

"I would like to express gratitude for your continuous support to issues like Climate Justice, Climate Finance, and Green Credit raised by me," Indian PM Modi said while addressing the world leaders at the climate summit on Day 2. 

Indian PM Narendra Modi at COP28 said that the country presents the best illustration of the "balance between ecology and economy before the world."

"Despite India being home to 17 percent of the population of the world, its contribution to Global Carbon Emissions is less than 4 percent. India is one of those few economies of the world that is on the path to meet NDC targets," Modi added at COP28. 
 

While addressing the Dubai climate summit, PM Modi proposed to host COP33 in India in 2028. 

"It's always refreshing to exchange ideas with my friend Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte," PM Modi said post holding a brief interaction with his Dutch counterpart. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with King Abdullah II of Jordan as second day of COP28 gets underway. 

"I am pleased to meet His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-28). Our discussions were enriching and reflect the deep-rooted friendship between our two countries. We look forward to strengthening our relations further," he wrote following the meet. 

Sri Lankan Ambassador to the UAE Udaya Indrarathna hailed presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ongoing climate summit in Dubai. 

"UAE is hosting a very big and important COP-28 event. It's going to be a super success...We are very delighted that India's PM as well as our President is in town. We have a great relationship with India, they are our great neighbour. It's a really good time to be together," the envoy reportedly said. 
 

COP28 host country's President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced the establishment of "$30 billion dollar fund for global climate solutions," specifically designed to "bridge the climate finance gap". 

Britain's King Charles III is praying that the UN's COP28 climate talks will be a "critical turning point" in the fight against global warming, he said while addressing the world leaders in Dubai, on Friday. 

"I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action," he told the World Climate Action Summit, held in parallel with COP28.

He added, "It worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track." This comes after UN's first official progress report in September found that the world remained dangerously off course to address climate change.

"In your hands is an unmissable opportunity to keep our common hope alive," said British monarch.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the COP28 summit, United Nations chief António Guterres told the world leaders that despite "record emissions", wildfires, deadly droughts and amid the "hottest year ever" it is not too late.

"Earth's vital signs are failing, record emissions, ferocious fires...we are miles from the goals of the Paris agreement and minutes to midnight for the 1.5 degree limit. But it is not too late."

He added, "You can prevent planetary crash and burn. We need leadership – cooperation – and political will. And we need it now."

Negotiators released the first draft of the agreement on climate action Friday calling for fossil fuels to be reduced or eliminated.

The divisions over the issue have already surfaced amid COP28 talks as proposals for their "phasedown/out" contained in the draft prepared by the UK and Singapore will be highly contentious, reported AFP. 

Observers say debate over the terms "phaseout" and "phasedown" will follow, but the inclusion of such language at the beginning of the COP28 summit was significant.

(Photo credit: AFP)

Several world leaders including the UAE's President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among others started arriving for the second day of the summit in Dubai. 

The second day of the COP28 summit started on Friday, with Britain's King Charles set to address the gathering, telling world leaders that the repeated warning signs of the impact of climate change were being disregarded.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the COP28's decision to launch the loss and damage fund by saying it was an essential tool. 

Guterres welcomed the move to operationalise the new loss and damage fund, an essential tool for delivering climate justice to the most vulnerable people.

COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber said on Thursday that the role of fossil fuels must be included at the UN's climate talks. Jaber's comment came as countries hardest hit by climate impacts called for a phase-out of fossil fuels, which are responsible for three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions.

Britain's King Charles III will give an opening address to the COP28 on Friday where he is expected to tell world leaders that the repeated warning signs of the impact of climate change are being disregarded, with devastating consequences.

"I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action," he is expected to tell countries, a report by the news agency Reuters said. 

The COP28 started on Thursday with a historic launch of a fund to support countries hit by global warming. Countries including the summit host the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States (US), and the United Kingdom (UK) announced contributions to the fund worth millions.