COP28 president Dr Sultan Al Jaber during opening press conference of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: JAKUB PORZYCKI / AFP / NurPhoto
The president of the United Nations Climate talks COP28 in Dubai says there is "no science" indicating that a phase-out of fossil fuels is needed to restrict global heating to 1-point-5-degrees celsius.
As well as running Cop28 in Dubai, Sultan Al Jaber is also the chief executive of the United Arab Emirates' state oil company, Adnoc, which many observers say is a serious conflict of interest.
As weather disasters and heat intensifies around the world, over 60 thousand people are gathered for the latest talks.
The main task is an assessment of countries' progress towards meeting the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal of limiting the global temperature rise to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, while aiming for 1.5C.
So far global efforts are lagging. Kathryn speaks with the Guardian's Environment Editor Fiona Harvey from Dubai.