King Charles III will attend the UN’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai this year and deliver an address at the opening ceremony, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday.
Last year, the UK government, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Liz Truss, advised the British monarch against attending the 2022 annual talks, which took place in Egypt. It was understood at the time that, following consultations with the government, a mutual decision was reached, deeming the climate summit as an inappropriate occasion for the King’s first overseas trip as sovereign.
The participation of world leaders in the talks remains limited, and it is uncertain whether US President Joe Biden will travel to the United Arab Emirates for the event.
The 74-year-old King is scheduled to deliver his address on December 1 and will also hold meetings with regional leaders. This visit occurs amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly as the Israel-Gaza conflict poses the risk of spilling over into other countries.
The official statement from the palace regarding King Charles III’s visit reads, “The King will attend the Opening Ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit at COP28 UAE, at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and at the request of His Majesty’s Government, on Friday 1st December 2023.” deliver an address
During his visit to the UAE, King Charles will also participate in a reception to launch the inaugural COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum, a two-day event running alongside the UN summit. This forum is hosted by the COP28 presidency in strategic partnership with Charles’ Sustainable Markets Initiative, which he established while he was still the Prince of Wales.
The primary objective of this high-level forum is to bring together world leaders and prominent figures from the realms of business, finance, and philanthropy to drive progress in addressing climate and nature-related challenges.
King Charles III has been an ardent champion of environmental and climate causes for over five decades. He previously attended the COP26 climate talks as the Prince of Wales in 2021, held in Glasgow, Scotland, where he called upon nations to collaborate with industry to develop solutions for the climate crisis.