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But what can and will be accomplished at the Conference of the
Parties, called COP31, remains to be seen. Past talks have been
criticized for making promises that later fell flat.
While delegates at the 2023 conference in Dubai agreed to
transition away from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas —
the leading contributor to climate change — subsequent
conferences in Azerbaijan and Brazil ended with little agreement
on reductions. Last year's Brazil conference produced a
compromise agreement pledging additional money to help
vulnerable nations adapt to climate change.
This year's conference officially kicked off Monday with Turkey
hosting and Australia leading negotiations at a time of fears
that the world is not moving quickly enough.
Many participants, who struggled with overcrowded transport
links and traffic congestion, set out for the summit venue
before sunrise to avoid lengthy delays. Access was expected to
become increasingly difficult as security measures increase and
key conference areas are temporarily blocked with the arrival of
world leaders.
Scientists say global warming is likely to exceed 1.5 degrees
Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels of
the early 1800s. Limiting temperature rise to that threshold was
a goal set during the 2015 Paris Agreement and has been a focus
of international negotiations.
The talks also come as the war in Iran has increased global
prices of gasoline, oil and products made with them, such as
fertilizers and pesticides. That has pushed governments to
rethink energy policies and investment in renewable energy
sources like wind and solar.
“We don’t need more promises, we need plans,” said John Kerry,
former U.S. secretary of state and former presidential climate
envoy, though the U.S. itself, the world’s second-largest
polluter after China, is noticeably absent for the second year
in a row.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called climate change a
hoax, has targeted offshore wind projects and removed rules
limiting power plant emissions.
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Milko reported from Islamabad and Webber reported from Chicago.
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