Highlights and images for 1 December 2023

Over 134 countries endorsed the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action. The list includes some of the major agricultural emitters, such as Brazil, China, the EU, and the US. The Declaration could extend to more than just words, as several follow-up workshops on the Declaration’s implementation will be held at this meeting.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Visiting Heads of State and Government were kept busy throughout the day. In the World Climate Action Summit in the morning, participants looked to them for political direction and action. UN Secretary-General António Guterres set a clear tone, calling on all countries to phase out all fossil fuels, not just to reduce or abate them, or risk a “planetary crash and burn.”

Leaders then gathered to reflect on the state of global adaptation actions, as part of the political phase of the Global Stocktake. Loss and damage was a key part of the discussion. Several leaders made funding announcements to support the loss and damage fund and/or funding arrangements. On Friday, up to EUR 225 million was announced. Pledges included:

• EUR 100 million from Italy;
• “up to” EUR 100 million from France;
• EUR 15 million from the Netherlands; and
• CAD 16 million from Canada.

While many lauded these announcements, Prime Minister Mia Mottley (Barbados) and others stressed the need for the fund to be properly capitalized. They also highlighted the difficulties many experience navigating the technicalities of accessing climate finance, and urged for these barriers to be lowered, particularly as developing countries continue to experience devastating climate impacts.

While the leaders reflected on the state of adaptation, negotiators struggled to find agreement on the Global Stocktake political outcome. Discussions on finance were equally difficult, especially regarding the state of the promise to provide USD 100 billion per year. Some have suggested that it has been met, based on preliminary data. This is refuted by many developing countries who point to how various estimates use their own underlying definitions and assumptions.

Indigenous Leaders also met in the Third Annual Gathering of Knowledge Holders. This year, they shared views on the water-energy-food nexus. These gatherings help enhance the inclusion of diverse knowledge systems in climate policies and actions, with a strong focus on intergenerational knowledge sharing.