The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), where a tough battle is expected to phase out fossil fuels and finance the energy transition of developing countries, officially opened today in Dubai.

Last year’s COP27 Egyptian president Sameh Shoukry, head of Egyptian diplomacy, called for a minute’s silence at the opening for “all civilians who have lost their lives in the current conflict in Gaza” and also for two veteran COP diplomats who recently passed away. Representatives of nearly 200 countries are gathering for two weeks of negotiations chaired by the United Arab Emirates.

COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber opened this year’s UN Climate Conference by urging countries to find common ground on policies to achieve global climate goals.

Jaber, who is also chief executive of the United Arab Emirates’ national oil company ADNOC, acknowledged according to a written version of his opening remarks that there were “strong views on the idea of ​​including references to fossil fuels and renewables in the text under negotiation…I ask you to cooperate”.