World Climate Action Summit: Prime Minister Modi may attend World Climate Action Summit during COP28 in Dubai | India News

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the two-day World Climate Action Summit (WCAS), beginning December 1, during the 28th session of the UN climate conference (COP28) in Dubai and may pitch for the country’s approach to deal with the critical environmental issues through Mission LiFE (lifestyle for environment) which got wider acceptance here at G20 leaders’ summit in September.
The UAE under its presidency of COP28 will host three high-level events focused on the global stocktake (GST), covering mitigation, adaptation, and the means of implementation of various climate actions at the Summit.
Though the official announcement of Modi’s visit is still awaited, sources said that the Prime Minister is most likely to be there for the Summit. Environment minister Bhupender Yadav is also expected to attend the COP28 and participate in key negotiations during its high-level segment.
The COP28, scheduled to be held during November 30-December 12, will conclude the first ever GST — analysis of voluntary climate actions taken by over 195 countries as per their commitments under the Paris Agreement — and may also adopt the mechanism to operationalise ‘loss and damage’ fund which is meant for supporting developing countries, primarily the least developed ones, impacted by climate change.
Sharing the basic agenda of the WCAS on December 1-2, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, COP28 president-designate and UAE special envoy for climate change, in his letter to all member countries, this month said, “These events are mandated to be chaired by the high-level committee and are intended to provide political guidance for the consideration of outputs phase of the GST. The high-level committee will issue a summary of the events on December 3, capturing key political messages delivered by heads of state and government.”
Though it is not yet clear who all among the heads of state/government may attend the Summit during COP28, it is expected that the US president Joe Biden, the UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and the French President Emmanuel Macron will be among the global leaders who attend the meet with Modi in Dubai to give a political momentum to the crucial climate summit.

Their presence at a common platform in West Asia will be quite significant as the UN climate conference this year is going to be held at a time when the world is quite divided on the issue of Israel-Palestine war in Gaza.
Sensing an urgency as the escalation of Israel’s ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza will provide a grim backdrop to COP28, Al Jaber had last month urged countries to unite for the cause of climate, saying their responsibility is only greater in “such challenging times with tension and discord between countries and within countries”.
“There are too many things dividing our world at this moment. Now more than ever, we need to unite on climate and deliver a clear message of hope, solidarity, stability and prosperity,” said Al Jaber while delivering his opening remarks at pre-COP in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on October 30.