Cop28: global heating could hit 3C, warn politicians, as climate summit continues

As the conference goes into the last few days, today’s theme will be nature and forests

The climate crisis could stifle economic growth in the Gulf region by almost 70% by 2100, if fossil fuels are not phased out and greenhouse gas emissions continue to heat the planet at the current rate, a new study by Christian Aid suggests.

The report Mercury Rising: the economic impact of climate change on the Arabian Peninsula found that Gulf countries can expect to suffer an average GDP hit of -69% by the end of the century, if global temperature rise reaches 3C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. If the world rallies to phase out fossil fuels and curtails planet heating to 1.5C as set out in the Paris Agreement, these countries face an average GDP growth reduction of -8.2% by 2050 and -36% by 2100.