Morocco’s Princess Lalla Hasnaa is representing King Mohammed VI at the World Climate Action Summit, organized as part of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which began on Friday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan greeted the princess upon her arrival in Dubai.
Before moving to the conference chamber, the royal delegate took a group photograph with several global leaders.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and King Charles III of the United Kingdom gave keynote addresses.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, President of COP28, set the tone with a call for unity, action, and multilateralism. He advocated COP28 as a chance for revolutionary action, emphasizing the need for increased measures to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed India as the host for COP33 in 2028, underlining the commitment to global climate initiatives.
UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised the event and made a historic announcement, revealing a $30 billion fund for global climate solutions, specifically designed to bridge the climate finance gap.
King Abdullah II of Jordan drew attention to the intersection of the climate emergency with the conflict in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for aid to vulnerable regions facing both crises.
King Charles III expressed deep concern about the alarming tipping points in the climate crisis and urged transformative action.
With over 60,000 participants, including world leaders, government officials, activists, and private sector figures, the summit focuses on confronting the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
The summit witnessed substantial financial commitments from a number of countries.
Italy committed $141.6 million to climate change impacts. The United Kingdom pledged $2 billion to the Green Climate Fund, and the UAE unveiled a groundbreaking $30 billion ALTÉRRA climate-focused investment vehicle.
Canada and Germany contributed $16 million and $100 million, respectively, signaling a collective effort to address the impacts of climate change.
These funding commitments mark a significant step toward assisting vulnerable communities and strengthening global efforts for a more sustainable and resilient future.