The air around Dubai sits at a surprising 30°C this Thursday, warmth locals call a pleasant winter breeze and visitors feel as heat from a distant summer. Even a city that thrives on rapid-fire events senses something unusual at play. After a week filled with dialogue and disagreements, the climate summit has reached its midpoint. Across the venue, there’s a clear mood: a deal to halt fossil fuel growth and protect the vulnerable could emerge soon, though the final shape remains uncertain. For now, early indicators point to a potentially historic moment in climate diplomacy.
Officials close to the negotiations say the United Arab Emirates presidency is guiding talks with a steady hand. Delegates from almost 200 nations have spent the week racing against the clock to push forward concrete agreements on mitigation, adaptation, and the loss and damage framework. Mitigation concentrates on cutting emissions; adaptation prepares cities, farms, and other human systems to withstand climate stress; loss and damage focuses on assistance for those most affected. Early drafts and the Global Assessment show meaningful progress in these areas, even as some observers describe the text as hurried and imperfect in its current form.
The summit faces many issues that need resolution in the final week, but there are high hopes for a durable agreement
All eyes turn to the next steps in the schedule. The calendar suggests that the final negotiations must begin this Friday, aiming to seal the Dubai agreement by Tuesday the 12th and secure unanimous buy‑in. Yet nothing is guaranteed in these high‑stakes talks.
The European bloc is pushing for stronger language against fossil fuels and a faster energy transition. In contrast, major oil and energy exporters such as Saudi Arabia and India resist a rapid phase‑out of coal, oil, and gas, arguing that a quick move could trigger economic disruption. Small island nations are pressing for robust mechanisms to honor agreements on losses and damages caused by climate change, especially in regions most exposed to rising seas.
city of contradictions
The debate about tackling the climate crisis threads through Dubai’s Expo City, a 500‑hectare complex housing a cluster of pavilions built for a universal exposition. This edition now hosts the climate summit, while the Emirate itself wrestles with the practical realities of ultra‑dense crowds, traffic, and crowded dining rooms. A local observer notes that sustainability has become a brand in Dubai, used to charge premium services rather than to drive political and social debate. The coming days will test whether climate conversations translate into broader social change or stay confined within the summit’s walls.
The arrival of summit attendees reshapes the city, increasing traffic and filling restaurants
Dubai presents a city of contrasts even in climate policy. While some European cities debate the ethics of open‑air ice rinks during droughts, Dubai has already established a tradition of ice installations inside a desert setting during this season. Energy‑efficiency rules exist in parts of Europe, and visitors are advised to wear a jacket to cope with indoor cooling that can feel extreme in hot Dubai. At the same time, discussions about rebuilding coastlines affected by the climate crisis intensify in public policy debates. Luxury artificial islands continue to rise, a palpable symbol of the city’s adaptation goals and its ongoing tension between development and sustainability.
Many of these actions would be less likely elsewhere where climate policy aligns more closely with public awareness. Yet Dubai remains a focal point for climate hope as talks head toward final phases. The sense in the Thursday sessions is that an important agreement could emerge from the negotiations, signaling progress in the global effort to combat climate chaos, or at least showing momentum for ambitious action. Time will tell whether the summit delivers a message that endures beyond assurances or fades amid the city’s day‑to‑day bustle.