On the second day of Cop28 in Dubai, world leaders take the floor. A declaration on agriculture and food systems is approved.
Second day of negotiations at Cop28 in Dubai. Taking centre stage are the statements of leaders present in the United Arab Emirates, and the "Declaration on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and climate action", which was approved by 134 leaders from around the world (Italy included).
It is essentially a list of principles and promises, which must be followed by concrete actions, milestones, interim targets, and a timetable. And, above all, funding. Declarations of principle are, in fact, approved in large numbers at every Cop: what is needed is to move from words to deeds as quickly as possible.
It was United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres who reminded everyone of the fundamental objectives of Cop28. Speaking to the delegates present, he explained that "the science is clear: the goal of limiting the rise in average global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius can only be achieved if we stop burning every type of fossil fuel". A warning to all those who insist on the differences between coal, oil and gas with the sole aim of perpetuating businesses that are devastating for the Earth's climate.
Guterres once again highlighted the fact that the impacts of climate change are already being felt today: "Record emissions, gigantic wildfires, deadly droughts. And 2023 will be the hottest year ever recorded in human history." In this context, the Portuguese diplomat addressed the conflict-of-interest suspicions that have for months centred on the figure of the Cop28 president, Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive officer of Adnoc, the state oil company of the United Arab Emirates. "I think he is in the best possible position to explain to his colleagues in the fossil fuel industry that it is time to say goodbye to polluting energies," said the UN Secretary-General.
On the other hand, he added, "we have the potential, the technologies, the capabilities and the money. The capital is there — it is simply a matter of directing it in the right direction. The only thing still missing is political will. And it is for this reason that this Cop is so important: people need to understand that we are still heading in the wrong direction."
Numerous heads of state and government took the floor. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that "we do not have much time left to repair the mistakes of the past. The whole world is watching us, Mother Nature is watching us." Brazilian President Lula da Silva (whose country will host Cop30 in 2025) for his part recalled that "no country will solve the problems alone. Brazil is ready to lead the way by setting an example." King Charles III of England said he was "praying with all his heart" that Cop28 would represent "a decisive turning point in favour of real transformation, given that the world is not yet on the right track."
The speech by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was disappointing, focused solely on the issue of food: "It is one of our strategic priorities. We must work with Africa, for example, but knowing that we are not here to do charity: my view is that Africa doesn't need it. We must ensure that they are able to compete, to prosper with their own resources. The continent holds, among other things, 65% of the world's arable land: adequate technologies and adequate training are therefore needed so that they can secure for themselves what they need."
"But we must not only focus on food supply," Meloni added. "We must also focus attention on food safety. Quality food is needed for everyone. The way forward is not to produce food in laboratories, creating a world in which the rich can eat natural products and the poor eat synthetic ones." Finally, the leader of Fratelli d'Italia announced the allocation of "100 million euros for the fund for loss and damage."
Considerably more clear-cut was the position of French President Emmanuel Macron, according to whom "emerging countries must phase out coal, and this represents the second fundamental battle, after the one that falls to the wealthier countries. The G7 must set an example and commit to phasing out coal before others do — that is, before 2030. The G7 has in this respect a great responsibility, as does China."
Also worth noting is the speech by Tupou VI, king of the Polynesian island state of Tonga: "Every year we hear the anguished pleas of those who represent small island states, which are literally sinking underwater due to climate breakdown. It is no surprise that they have felt ignored while the large wealthy countries continue to burn fossil fuels." Tupou stated that "more than 50,000 people from the Pacific islands are displaced every year due to the loss of their homes."
Finally, also worth noting is the decision by the Iran delegation to walk out of Cop28 in protest at the presence of Israel.
