Malu Cursino
Live reporter, at COP28

After the King, we heard from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who will host the COP30 climate summit in 2025.

Lula says the world needs concrete actions, as he rhetorically asks "how many world leaders are committed to fixing the planet?"

"Humanity suffers with droughts," he tells the summit, as he focuses on the current situation in the north of Brazil, where the Amazon region is suffering with the worst drought in its history, President Lula says.

He speaks of the impact of "the injustice that penalises the younger generations", and the overlap between ethnicity, climate change and socio-economic vulnerabilities.

King's speech reflects his lifelong commitment to the environmentpublished at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2023

08:50 GMT 1 December 2023

Justin Rowlatt
Climate editor, at COP28

This was a rousing address from King Charles, reflecting his lifelong commitment to green causes.

There were familiar themes: The need to repair and restore nature, to get the public and private sectors working together to find and fund solutions, and the importance of environmentally friendly forms of agriculture.

It is precisely because he has spent so much time thinking about - and campaigning on - these issues that he has been invited here to Dubai.

He is the only head of state accorded the honour of addressing the 167 world leaders at COP28 from the podium.

It is, Buckingham Palace has been emphasising, a rare honour and, as the King himself pointed out, the second time he has addressed one of these huge climate summits. He spoke at the landmark COP21 in Paris in 2015 - that was the first time all the nations of the world agreed they all needed to tackle climate change.

The UAE is promising that this conference will be just as transformative - quite a claim!

It is going to be fascinating to see if they can deliver on it over the next two weeks.

Wrapping up his speech, King Charles references indigenous communities again, saying their "world view teaches us that we are all connected".

"The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth," he says, as he finishes his speech to applause in the room.

Addressing the thousands of negotiators and world leaders at this summit, he says: "In your hands is an unmissable opportunity to keep our common hope alive."

"I can only urge you to meet it with ambition, imagination, and a true sense of the emergency we face," he says.

In 2050, our grandchildren will not ask what we said - they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didn't do, he says.

"If we act together to safeguard our precious planet, the welfare of all our people will surely follow."

King Charles has laid out a series of questions he says might inform the task ahead of the summit.

Firstly, how can organisations - public, private, philanthropic, charities - be strengthened for the crisis the world faces.

Secondly, the King says it is crucial "finance flows" to those developments which are most essential to a sustainable future.

Thirdly, he says it's vital innovation is accelerated and green alternatives - such as renewable energy - are deployed across all industries.

Fourthly, the King asks how different solutions and initiatives can be brought together to "ensure coherent long-term approaches across sectors, countries and industries".

"For virtually every artificial source of greenhouse gas emissions, there are alternatives or mitigations which can be put in place," he adds.

Finally, King Charles asks how can the planet forge "an ambitious new vision" for the next 100 years.

The King finishes his points by praising the ideas, knowledge and energy of young people, artists, engineers, communicators and Indigenous communities.

Image source, COP28

"We are carrying out a vast, frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition, all at once, at a pace that far outstrips nature’s ability to cope," the King says.

"Our choice now is a starker – and darker – one: how dangerous are we actually prepared to make our world?"

He says dealing with climate change is a "job for us all".

The King says dangers of climate change "are no longer distant risks", as he recalls on communities across the commonwealth that are currently "unable to withstand repeated shocks".

He says that natural disaster events have battered vulnerable island nations and many parts of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are experiencing unprecedented floods.

King Charles says he has "tried to say on many occasions" that rapid repair and restore of nature's "unique economy" is vital to our "survivability".

The King says he’s spent “a large proportion of my life trying to warn of the existential threats facing us over global warming, climate change and biodiversity loss”.

He says despite this, decades later there is 30% more CO2 in the atmosphere now than back then, and almost more than 40% more methane.

"Some important progress has been made, but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track,” he says.

Image source, Getty Images

King Charles III has begun addressing the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

He extends his heartfelt gratitude to United Arab Emirates president for inviting him to the opening of this year's summit.

"Eight years ago, I was most touched to be asked to speak at the opening of COP21 in Paris, which of course culminated in the Paris Agreement," the King says.

"A landmark moment of hope and optimism, when nations put differences to one side for the common good," he adds.

"I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action at a time when, already, as scientists have been warning for so long, we are seeing alarming tipping points being reached."

Image source, COP28

"Humanity's fate hangs in the balance," the UN secretary general says.

"Make this COP a new hope in the future of humankind," he says, finishing his speech.

Guterres urges world economies to switch to renewable energy in his address at COP 28.

The world is unequal and divided, he says, and "global heating is busting budgets, ballooning food prices, upending energy markets, and feeding a cost-of-living crisis".

But climate action, he says, "can flip that switch."

Esme Stallard
Climate reporter

"Earth's vital signs are failing," the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres continues.

"But it is not too late."

Many of the analogies in his speech we have heard before, such as "[we are] minutes to midnight for the 1.5-degree limit". He will just be hoping that this time leaders' ears are open.

Image source, COP28

Just before the King, we're hearing from UN secretary general António Guterres.

"Just days ago, I was on the melting ice of Antarctica. Not long before, I was among the melting glaciers of Nepal. These two spots are far in distance, but united in crisis," he tells the packed conference room.

"Polar ice and glaciers are vanishing before our eyes, causing havoc the world over: From landslides and floods, to rising seas."

"But this is just one symptom of the sickness bringing our climate to its knees," he adds.

"A sickness only you, global leaders, can cure."

Big money from UAE will lift mood at COP28published at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2023

08:23 GMT 1 December 2023

Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, at COP28

Big money announcement from the president of the UAE has opened this leader’s section with another big pledge – some $30bn for “global climate solutions”.

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan says he wants this money to bridge the yawning climate finance gap and to stimulate the raising of around $250bn by 2030.

This will definitely help the mood of the conference, coming as it does after yesterday's successful establishment of a loss and damage fund to help poor nations cope with the impacts of climate change.

The UAE's President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announces a $30bn (£23.7bn) fund for "global climate solutions".

"This fund is especially designed to bridge the climate finance gap," the UAE president tells the summit.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, COP28

We're now hearing from the president of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who he speaks in Arabic as he welcomes thousands of delegates to his country and to COP28.

"This meeting comes at a time when the world faces many challenges - the most significant is climate change and its impact on life," he says.

Image source, UNFCCC

People have been asked to take their seats in the vast auditorium in Dubai ahead of King Charles's speech.

We've spotted the monarch in the crowd - as well as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest.

Image source, UNFCCC

Image source, PA Media

We'll be hearing from King Charles shortly but let's bring you some comments from his prime minister who says his country has "a great story to tell" at the climate conference in Dubai.

Earlier this morning Rishi Sunak spoke to broadcasters and was challenged over whether his rollback of climate ambition at home makes it harder to push other countries to do more.

Speaking from the British Embassy in Dubai he replied: "We have got an incredible track record in decarbonising in the UK, faster than any other major economy.

"We should be really proud of that."

Sunak said the UK is "leading the world in new industries" such as offshore wind.

You can read more on Sunak's climate policy here.

Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

It feels like a big day here.

I'm standing next to these crowds waiting behind barriers in the hot sun, hoping for a glimpse of a famous face.

Security is very tight and entry to the rooms where world leaders will speak is extremely limited.

We'll be watching what they say and bring you the latest.

Away from the speeches, a big announcement on food is expected later - I'm finding out more now.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Image source, UAE Presidential Court/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

King Charles was campaigning about protecting the environment many years before it was such a mainstream issue. It’s clearly a personal passion that goes back decades.

He’s been outspoken before at previous COP summits, telling delegates two years ago that we were in a “last chance saloon” for tackling the climate crisis.

But that was when he was still Prince of Wales, with more scope for his own views. As King, and head of state, he has to speak on the advice of ministers.

So while he will be promoting the environmental cause, and giving it his own personal sense of urgency, it will have to be in a way that has the approval and shaping hand of the government. It’s a delicate balancing act.