DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — King Charles III addressed world leaders at the World Climate Action Summit during COP28 on December 1, 2023, warning that the world is dangerously ignoring the signs of the climate crisis. In his first major speech on climate change as monarch, the King emphasized the urgent need for transformational action to address the devastating consequences of the climate crisis.

The King expressed concern about the alarming frequency of extreme weather events, including Canada’s unprecedented wildfire season, lethal flooding in Pakistan and Bangladesh, and catastrophic drought in East Africa. He urged delegates at the summit to make critical decisions that would determine the fate of the world, calling for increased public and private finance to tackle the climate crisis and accelerate the shift to renewable energy.

During the opening ceremony of COP28 in Dubai, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced a $30 billion green investment fund to bridge the climate finance gap. Countries formally adopted a damage fund to help nations most affected by the climate crisis, with several nations pledging significant financial commitments. The US, however, announced a commitment of $17.5 million, which experts and advocacy groups deemed insufficient.

Leaders from 134 countries, responsible for 70% of the world’s food production, signed a declaration pledging to include food in their climate change plans by 2025, marking the first time a COP summit leaders’ declaration has focused on food and the climate crisis. The pledge was lauded as a significant step to shift the global food system, although some experts expressed the need for more specific plans to tackle food emissions.

World leaders, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazil’s President Lula Da Silva, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, addressed delegates at the talks in Dubai to discuss further actions to combat the climate crisis. As the global community grapples with record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events, the pressure is on for leaders to make ambitious progress at COP28 and take effective measures to address the urgent climate crisis.