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Who is attending COP28? Leaders, royalty and billionaires on invite list | World News<\/p>\n
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More than 160 world leaders are expected to attend the COP28 climate summit, which begins in Dubai today.<\/p>\n
The COP (Conference of the Parties) summit brings together a broad range of the biggest names in politics, business and climate activism – but there is controversy over several names on the invite list.<\/p>\n
So who are some of the notable people attending this year’s event?<\/p>\n
Bashar al Assad<\/strong><\/p>\n The Syrian president was invited to the Dubai climate summit<\/strong> in May after he was readmitted to the Arab League<\/strong> – but this has not gone down well everywhere.<\/p>\n “I think morally it’s repugnant,” says Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army chemical and biological expert who has spent a decade investigating Mr Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons.<\/p>\n “He should be arrested in Abu Dhabi, not flaunted on the world stage,” he told Sky News.<\/p>\n Just two weeks ago, an international warrant for Mr Assad’s arrest was issued<\/strong>.<\/p>\n International arrest warrants for serving leaders are exceptionally rare, and while Mr Assad<\/strong> is unlikely to face trial in France<\/strong> the move will have sent a strong message at a time when some countries have welcomed him back into the diplomatic fold.<\/p>\n A report by a former International Criminal Court judge recently argued Mr Assad should not be invited to this year’s COP28 climate talks<\/strong> because of the environmental destruction he and his regime have caused.<\/p>\n Syria says its prime minister will lead its team at COP28 – and has not indicated if Mr Assad will attend.<\/p>\n Read more: What is COP28 and why is it controversial?<\/strong><\/p>\n Sultan al Jaber, the oil chief <\/strong><\/p>\n The first CEO to serve as COP president, Sultan al Jaber’s appointment raised a few eyebrows when it was announced.<\/p>\n Why? He’s head of the massive state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, which produces millions of barrels of oil every day.<\/p>\n Adding to the controversy, with COP28 just days away it was alleged<\/strong> the UAE planned to use the summit to strike oil and gas deals.<\/p>\n “These allegations are false, not true, incorrect and not accurate,” Mr al Jaber told journalists on Wednesday<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “I promise you never ever did I see these talking points that they refer to or that I ever even used such talking points in my discussions.”<\/p>\n US v China? John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua<\/strong><\/p>\n Former Secretary of State John Kerry (who also ran for president in 2004) and Xie Zhenhua are the US and China’s respective climate envoys.<\/p>\n As representatives of the two countries with the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a lot of eyes will be on the pair and how well the two superpowers are able to work together.<\/p>\n In climate negotiations, Beijing argues that wealthy developed countries like the US, the biggest historical CO2 emitter, should move first and fastest in climate policy and finance.<\/p>\n Despite having the world’s second largest economy after the US, China considers itself as a developing nation in the climate talks.<\/p>\n The US supports a deal that would phase out CO2-emitting fossil fuel use but its delegates will face pressure for climate finance after Washington pledged no new climate cash to the United Nations this year<\/p>\n Cancelled trip – Pope Francis<\/strong><\/p>\n Pope Francis, who has been outspoken about climate change, had to cancel his trip to COP28 on the advice of doctors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The pontiff warned in October that the world is nearing the “point of no return”<\/strong> and said the transition to renewable energy from fossil fuels was not progressing fast enough.<\/p>\n He stressed the “irreversible” damage under way to the planet and its people, adding that the world’s poor and most vulnerable were paying the highest price.<\/p>\n According to the Holy See, the Pope still wants to participate in the climate summit in some way.<\/p>\n Bill Gates<\/strong><\/p>\n Microsoft founder Bill Gates is also set to be in the UAE for the summit.<\/p>\n Writing on his blog earlier this week, the billionaire philanthropist said there is “more reason to be optimistic than most people realise”.<\/p>\n “But it’s still a big challenge, and since the world has finite resources for fighting it, we need to focus on the efforts that will save and improve the most lives.<\/p>\n “That means funding more innovations that reduce carbon emissions while making clean energy affordable for everyone, help people (especially in poor countries) survive and thrive in a warming world, and continue the world’s progress on fighting disease and poverty.”<\/p>\n King Charles <\/strong><\/p>\n King Charles will give the opening address of this summit on Friday – his first major climate speech since ascending the throne.<\/p>\n The monarch has devoted much of his attention to the environment over the last several decades.<\/p>\n It will be the third time that the now-King will deliver the opening speech, having done so at Glasgow’s COP26 and at COP21 in Paris.<\/p>\n But this year’s COP summit comes amid a PR storm for the King<\/strong> after the Dutch translation of a new book about the Royal Family reportedly appeared to name a member of the family who allegedly questioned what colour Harry and Meghan’s son Archie’s skin would be when he was born.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0635\u062f\u0631<\/a>\n<\/div>
\n COP28 President Sultan al Jaber Pic: AP
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\n John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua
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\n Pope Francis had been due to attend the summit
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\n Bill Gates meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Pic: AP
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