By Roberto Morejón

The Conference on Climate Change is attracting worldwide attention, as it is the most attended conference of its kind in history and in view of the urgency of the planet due to the effects of global warming.

More than 140 leaders, personalities, businessmen and other guests are attending COP28, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in the populous city of Dubai.

The high turnout should be related to the increase in disturbing weather phenomena in various latitudes.

The objective is clear, to ensure that the world is placed on a proper track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Moreover, at the Dubai conference, it is timely for countries to assess their progress in meeting the targets set at previous conferences, such as the one in Paris.

Against this adverse backdrop, the establishment of a new fund to help poor nations cope with costly climate-related cataclysms was an encouraging sign.

Speaking at the forum, delegates reported contributions to the fund, including the host country, the United Arab Emirates, with $100 million.

In the heat of this agreement, the interventions of the UN Secretary General and the President of Brazil stood out.

Antonio Guterres gave the audience food for thought when he pointed out that "We cannot save a burning planet with a hose of fossil fuels" and advocated accelerating a fair and equitable transition to renewable energies.

On his side, Lula linked his speech in favor of the environment with other banners, such as the fight against hunger and inequality and the current ongoing conflicts in the world.

Lula pointed out that last year alone, the world spent more than two trillion dollars on weapons, an amount that could have been invested in ending hunger and global warming.

In such a contradictory context, it is to be hoped that affluent nations will fulfill their financial obligations in proportion to their role in the climate crisis.

But it would be foolish to be overly optimistic, as there remain many thorny issues to be addressed at the conference, including the inclusion for the first time of a call to phase out the global use of coal, oil and gas.

Nothing could be more ambitious, but this COP should undoubtedly represent a space for far-reaching commitments.