Some people have got the impression that the UAE is almost trying to do two different dances. Christina Figueres, the UN's ex-climate chief, who was key in getting the Paris Agreement called the UAE's approach to COP 28 Dangerous. We cannot carbon capture and storage our way to 1.5 degrees and 2.0. But you've got to decarbonize all of the areas that you can. And we know that we can decarbonize most of society.
Every year, the world’s leaders gather for the UN climate change conference. At Cop28, they will be faced with two stark warnings from scientists: we are likely to breach 1.5C warming above pre-industrial levels in the next five years, and we are on course to reach 2.7C of warming by the end of the century. Progress has never been more critical and this year it lies in the hands of the United Arab Emirates, a country that has plans to expand its already extensive oil and gas productions. With six months to go, Madeleine Finlay talks to environment correspondent Fiona Harvey about Cop28’s hosts and president, why this year is particularly key, and how close we are getting to irreversible climate tipping points. Help support our independent journalism at
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