Problems for Dubai COP conference - 27th November 2023

The UN's 28th conference on climate change COP28 - is creating problems. And it hasn't started yet!

This year, it's happening in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This country's one of the world's biggest oil producers.

The Conference President is Sultan Al Jaber, who's also the head of the UAE's national oil company. He believes the world should produce fewer fossil fuels. But he doesn't agree with stopping them.

For many protesters, like Greta Thunberg, the UN's made the wrong decision. Including oil companies at the conference is bad news.

Eric Njuguna, from Kenya, spoke out against COP. For him, it’s like letting a 'mosquito' be the leader in 'the fight against malaria'. He worries about groups of people who experience climate problems. And he's worried about the future.

Last year, at COP27, Njuguna talked about such issues. Poorer countries produce fewer greenhouse gases. But it's these countries which suffer most from climate change. Richer countries produce 92 percent of greenhouse gases. At the last conference, they promised to help by giving money. But it's possible some have changed their mind.

2023 has been the hottest year ever. Will COP28 make the situation better, or worse?