Loss and damage fund the high point of COP28 summit| Gulf Times – Gulf Times

Loss and damage fund the high point of COP28 summit| Gulf Times – Gulf Times

The opening days of the United Nations climate talks (COP 28) in the UAE late last week stood out for two milestones – the historic launch of a loss and damage fund by nearly 200 nations and more than 130 countries agreeing to prioritise food and agriculture in their national climate plans. The landmark announcement of a fund to support countries hit by global warming, came as the Emirati host of the COP28 talks declared that fossil fuels must be part of any final climate deal negotiated at the conference over the next nine days.The talks in Dubai come at a pivotal moment for the planet, with emissions still rising and the UN on Thursday declaring 2023 on track to become the hottest year in human history. The formal establishment of the “loss and damage” fund long sought by climate-vulnerable nations provided an early win at COP28, where sharp divisions over the phasing out of fossil fuels were immediately apparent. COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber said it was “the first time a decision has been adopted on day one of any COP and the speed in which we have done so is also unique, phenomenal and historic.Leaders have been urged to