U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres travelled to Antarctica on November 24 to learn about the "deadly effects" of climate change. The United States will pledge an additional US$3 billion (S$4 billion) to help developing countries cut greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change by providing an additional US$3 billion (S$4 billion) to the United Nations Green Climate**.
Before U.S. Deputy Secretary Harris spoke at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai on Saturday (December 2), the United States revealed that the United States will commit to a $3 billion contribution to green climate from 2024 to 2028, but this will still need to be approved by the U.S. Congress.
Previously, developed countries such as Britain, France, Germany and Japan have pledged $9.3 billion to supplement the green climate**. After this round of replenishment, the total amount will reach a new high. The new U.S. commitment will help the U.S. boost credibility in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference. In recent years, there has been a growing mistrust between developed countries and developing countries because they have been slow to honour their previous pledges.
In addition to funding, another issue of disagreement at the climate conference was the phase-out of fossil fuels. The president of the conference, UAE Minister of Industry and Senior Technology, Jaber, on Thursday (30 November) proposed to continue using fossil fuels. However, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his opposition at the General Assembly the next day. He urged world leaders to chart a future free of fossil fuels. He pointed out that only a complete stop to the burning of fossil fuels will make it possible to limit warming to 15 degrees Celsius, and there is no other way to curb global warming. "We can't save a burning planet with fire hoses filled with fossil fuels," he said. ”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that more than 110 countries want the COP28 climate talks to set a target of tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. She described the goal as "remarkable" progress with support from more than 100 countries.
More than 20 countries called for a three-fold increase in global nuclear power capacity at the conference on Saturday. The statement, which was supported by the United States, Japan, Ghana and several European countries, said nuclear power could play a "key role" in helping the world achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Nuclear power is seen as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, but environmental groups are concerned about the unsafety of nuclear power and the pollution of the environment from nuclear waste.
There was an unwritten rule at the UN climate conference to avoid talking about politics, but the resumption of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza will cast a shadow over the conference. Some of the leaders took the opportunity to take the stage to condemn Israel's resumption of air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Friday. Turkey**Erdogan** and South Africa**Ramaphosa accuse Israel of war crimes;The delegation of Iran has temporarily decided to boycott the General Assembly in favour of Israel's attendanceFor his part, I.S. Herzog canceled his statement.