عبدالله بن زايد: نرحب بالعالم في الإمارات خلال مؤتمر الأطراف "COP 28"

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, praised the UAE’s winning of hosting the COP28 Climate Conference.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, “The UAE has demonstrated a long-term commitment to mitigating and adapting to climate change and creating a positive economic impact.”

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, added: “We are pleased that the General Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has chosen the UAE to host the Conference of Parties (COP28) in 2023, especially as this choice coincides with our preparations to celebrate the golden jubilee of the UAE. We affirm our continued commitment to support the efforts of the international community aimed at intensifying cooperation with the aim of limiting the repercussions of climate change and the challenges it causes.”

He continued, “The founding father was keen on protecting the environment, and his approach was a catalyst and inspiration for the progress we have made in the field of environment and the development and diversification of the economy over the past fifty years, and this legacy will remain a beacon to us in our endeavors to ensure the well-being of today’s and tomorrow’s generations.”

• Mohamed bin Zayed: We are pleased to host the UAE Climate Conference “COP 28”

He continued, “We seek for the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to be a forum for solutions, and I am confident that our young and open country will be able, through its deep experience, to push for practical solutions to the most pressing global challenges.”

He explained that the UAE’s strategic initiative in pursuit of climate neutrality 2050 reflects our firm commitment to support climate action, and that our many investments and partnerships around the world demonstrate our determination to support other countries in facing the challenges of climate change.

He added: “We look forward to welcoming the world to the UAE during COP28 to enhance the spirit of positive action that we are witnessing today, and we will make sure to amplify the voice of every country to ensure the reduction of global warming effects and open new horizons of opportunities that bring more growth, prosperity and progress towards building a better life.” for future generations.”

Behind the scenes of the UAE’s win to host COP28

The General Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has officially announced that the UAE will host the twenty-eighth session of the 28th COP in 2023, which is the most important and largest international conference on climate action with the participation of world leaders and leaders.

The announcement came at the end of two weeks of intense activities, in which about 200 countries participated in taking joint measures to put an end to greenhouse gas emissions globally, and to unify efforts to reduce the repercussions of climate change.

The UAE had obtained the support of the Asia-Pacific Group to host the 2023 session of the Conference of the States Parties.

On this occasion, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the UAE’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, delivered a speech during the Conference of the Parties in Glasgow, during which he explained that the confirmation of the UAE’s hosting of the Conference of Parties (COP 28) in 2023 comes thanks to the vision of the wise leadership and commitment to the development approach. This decision reflects the world’s appreciation for the positive contributions made by the state in the field of climate action.

• Sultan Al Jaber: We are proud to host COP28 and welcome world delegations

He said, “We are extremely pleased and proud that my country, the United Arab Emirates, has been confirmed to host the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28), explaining that “we appreciate this responsibility, and we realize that the time has come.” To take ambitious climate action, scientific bodies have warned that time is running out for the possibility of maintaining safe levels of temperature rise.

He added, “The UAE has great practical experience in initiatives to mitigate the repercussions of climate change and clean and renewable energy projects that create opportunities for sustainable economic and social growth. We look forward to welcoming the world to the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023 in Abu Dhabi to redouble efforts Enhancing work to reduce emissions and adapt to the repercussions of climate change through a realistic, comprehensive and integrated methodology that focuses on finding practical and commercially viable solutions, and applying the latest advanced technology innovations to develop our economies and improve the lives of our people.”

He referred to the UAE’s focus on adopting a comprehensive approach, saying: “The ‘COP 28’ conference will witness the first global assessment of the progress of countries in implementing their specific contributions under the Paris Agreement, and will allow us to launch a proactive comprehensive approach that takes into account the needs and conditions of various countries, developed and developing, while unifying efforts of the international community.

He congratulated the brothers in the Arab Republic of Egypt on their winning of hosting the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties, explaining that the UAE will cooperate with partners everywhere to identify lessons learned in order to achieve effective results, stressing the keenness on the participation of all segments of society in these efforts to contribute to changing the path of humanity towards better future.

He concluded by saying: “We will work to make this hosting a platform for finding successful and viable solutions that are in line with the vision of the wise leadership to create opportunities for sustainable economic and social growth.”

• Turning Challenges Into Opportunities

Maryam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment in the UAE, said: “With the escalation of climate risks that threaten all countries of the world, we are honored to take on the responsibility of hosting the ‘COP 28’ Conference of Parties. We will be keen to support the international community to develop an ambitious plan that focuses on actual progress and transforming challenges into opportunities. for economic growth.”

She added: “Thanks to the forward-looking vision of our wise leadership, the UAE has become a global leader in the global movement for climate action, and in the year 2023 and on the land of the UAE – the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency, and the incubator of many international events focused on achieving sustainability and protecting the environment – world leaders will gather to continue and strengthening the process of addressing the challenge of climate change.

She continued: “At COP 28, we will focus on addressing the global challenges posed by climate change to the planet and the global economy as two sides of the same coin, and we will enhance the exploration of innovative, economically viable solutions capable of supporting and accelerating our work to limit global warming to 1.5°C. We are eager to share our successful approach to turning challenges into growth opportunities to ensure a healthier and more sustainable planet for future generations.”

She added, “In the UAE, we believe in empowering young people and involving them in shaping the future, and we will be keen to support the highest levels of youth participation in delegations and all the work and events of the Conference of the States Parties to COP28.”

$1 billion in “agricultural innovation for climate”

The “COP26” conference witnessed the official launch of the “Agri-Climate Innovation Initiative”, a major global initiative led by the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, with the participation of 30 other countries. The initiative, whose initial commitments amount to $4 billion, aims to accelerate work on Develop climate-smart food and agricultural systems over the next five years.

The UAE pledged an additional investment of $1 billion as part of this initiative, which focuses on accelerating the innovation of agricultural and food systems that support climate action. The initiative seeks to enhance the economic contribution of the agricultural sector and provide greater job opportunities in this vital sector, which today provides more than two billion jobs and provides food. For all the inhabitants of the planet.

The UAE has also joined the Global Methane Pledge based on its position as one of the lowest emitters of methane in the world. The country will share its best practices in managing methane emissions with members of the initiative led by the European Union and the United States, which aims to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by the end of the current decade.

The UAE has always played a leading regional role in reducing methane emissions. Over the past five decades, the country has succeeded in reducing natural gas flaring levels in the local energy sector by more than 90%.

In turn, the oil and gas sector in the UAE today has one of the lowest intensity levels of methane emissions in the world, at just 0.01%.

The country will work to enhance its methane performance based on this very low base in the energy sector.

During the COP 26 conference, the UAE, in cooperation with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), announced the launch of a platform to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy solutions and projects, which aims to provide new global funding to accelerate the transition to renewable energy solutions in developing countries.

The UAE pledged to provide $400 million through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development to support this platform in raising at least $1 billion in funding.

The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, also announced a roadmap to achieve leadership in the field of hydrogen, a comprehensive national plan aimed at supporting low-carbon local industries, contributing to achieving climate neutrality and strengthening the country’s position as a hydrogen exporter.

The roadmap includes three main objectives, which are to provide new sources of value creation through the export of low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives and products to the main import areas, and to enhance opportunities for new hydrogen derivatives through low-carbon steel and sustainable kerosene, in addition to other priority industries, which contribute to achieving Climate neutrality by 2050.

The country has also raised the goal of planting mangroves – according to the second report of its nationally determined contributions – from 30 million to 100 million trees by 2030, as a step in support of the country’s leading position in relying on nature-based solutions in the face of the challenge of climate change, and through this goal, forest areas will reach Crimea in the country to 483 square kilometers and will capture 115,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

30 years of positive climate action

Winning to host COP28 is a testament to the UAE’s efforts in climate action for more than three decades.

The UAE was the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to ratify the Paris Agreement and is committed to reducing carbon emissions. It was also a pioneer in the region in setting goals for renewable energy and preserving biodiversity in line with its climate ambitions.

The UAE has made outstanding achievements in terms of sustainability, as it succeeded in reducing the cost of generating electricity using solar energy to be lower than other sources, and established one of the first carbon capture, use and storage facilities in the world.

$17 billion investment in solar energy

The country has also invested nearly $17 billion in solar, wind and battery energy projects in six continents, including 27 island nations vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, which started its commercial operations in April of this year, will contribute to removing about a quarter of the greenhouse gases caused by the energy sector in the UAE, when it is fully operational.

Climate Neutrality 2050 . Initiative

With the launch of the strategic initiative in pursuit of climate neutrality 2050, the UAE became the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to announce the pursuit of climate neutrality through a comprehensive economic program aimed at achieving progress and sustainable growth.

Following the announcement of the strategic initiative, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) pledged to decarbonize its electrical grid on a large scale as of January 2022.

Through this important step, ADNOC will become the first oil and gas company to provide the entire needs of its electricity grid, relying on solar and nuclear energy.

The UAE began its distinguished path of commitment to reduce the repercussions of climate change since 1989, when it ratified the Vienna Convention to protect the ozone layer. Since then, the country has acceded to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1995), and ratified the Kyoto Protocol (2005).

Two years ago, the UAE hosted the “Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting”, which was attended by Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.