Vatican:

Pope Francis said on Wednesday that he would be present at the COP28 climate conference, which will take place in Dubai starting next month. This would be the first time a pope would be attending an environmental conference since they started in 1995.

In an interview with Italy's state-run RAI television TG1 news, the Pope said he planned to visit Dubai from December 1 to 3. There is a conference from November 30 to December 12.

The Pope is set to emphasize his recent call for efforts to slow global warming while in Dubai. Regarding global warming, Pope Francis stated in the interview, "We still have time to stop it."

"Our children's and grandchildren's futures are in jeopardy. Some accountability is required." 

Pope Francis, 86, met with Sultan al-Jaber, the president of COP28, last month. He has made environmental conservation a priority during his pontificate.

The Holy Father called on climate change deniers and politicians who are taking their time to alter their minds in a significant document released on October 4. He said they cannot ignore human causes or minimize scientific findings when the Earth "may be nearing the breaking point".

Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical on the environment, "Laudato Si" (Praise Be), was followed up with this document, called an Apostolic Exhortation and named Laudate Deum (Praise God).

Laudate Deum repeatedly brought up the difficulties facing COP28, citing recent extreme weather events as inspiration. Pope Francis stated in the document that failure in Dubai "will be a great disappointment and jeopardize whatever good has been achieved thus far".