Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the 28th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-UNFCCC) scheduled to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from November 30 to December 12, 2023, according to Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mao Ning.
“The UAE President sent an invitation letter to President Xi Jinping to attend the summit,” he said during a routine briefing to the media in Beijing on Friday (24/11).
In order to actively respond to climate change and strengthen China’s traditional friendship with the UAE, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will attend the summit as the Special Representative of President Xi Jinping, he added.
The annual conference, attended by more than 190 countries that have ratified the UNFCCC, is expected to be attended by President Joko Widodo and several relevant ministers.
COP-28 is anticipated to address the global climate crisis against the backdrop of heatwaves, as well as droughts and floods occurring in many parts of the world.
“China will strive to uphold the institutions, principles, and objectives of the UNFCCC system, especially the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the theme ‘United, Act, Succeed’,” Mao Ning added.
Mao Ning also mentioned that President Xi Jinping still considers the Climate Change Summit to provide political guidance and be a crucial milestone for global climate governance.
“We will earnestly participate in finding solutions to the problems faced by developing countries and push for the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement,” he expressed.
Moreover, during COP-28, the G77 will also organize the G77 and China Summit and invite leaders of developing countries to attend.
As mandated by the Paris Agreement, COP-28 will deliver a comprehensive evaluation or “global stocktake” (GST).
This GST includes the progress of each country’s nationally determined contributions (NDC) to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
However, due to the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict, the results of the COP-27 agreement reached last year in Sharm el-Sheikh have failed to phase out fossil fuels gradually.
Continued reliance on fossil fuels will only hinder the development of clean, renewable, and sustainable energy.
According to the UNFCCC report in 2022, global emissions are projected to increase by nearly 14 percent during this decade. Subsequently, UNFCCC data in 2023 indicates that current policies will lead the world to a temperature rise of 2.8 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.
