Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (center), the UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President, Shamma Al Mazrui (left), the UAE's Minister of Community Development, and Simon Steele, Executive Director of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, attend the COP28 media majlis in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Nov 29, 2023. (PHOTO / WAM - EMIRATES NEWS AGENCY)
DUBAI - Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President, underscored the United Arab Emirates' unwavering commitment to climate action, highlighting the role of the nation's visionary leadership and the collective determination of its people and residents in solidifying its global position as a pioneer in climate action.
He emphasized that the UAE's approach of openness, partnership building, and cooperation has been instrumental in raising the bar of ambition and achieving tangible progress in addressing climate change.
Al Jaber made the statements during the COP28 media majlis, which was attended on Wednesday by the conference presidency team. It served as a platform to showcase the remarkable strides made in the lead-up to COP28.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President, emphasized the presidency's commitment to bridging the gap between ambition and actual achievement by engaging all stakeholders in the negotiations, rebuilding trust in COPs through transparency, clarity, and inclusion
Al Jaber commended the COP28 team's dedication and highlighted significant contributions to various areas, including the Loss and Damage Fund to support nations already grappling with the impacts of climate change. Also, in response to the call of the conference presidency, 85 percent of the world's economies have committed to triple the production capacity of renewable energy sources by 2030, while many oil and gas companies have also, for the first time, committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and to reducing methane emissions to "net zero" by 2030.
He emphasized the presidency's commitment to bridging the gap between ambition and actual achievement by engaging all stakeholders in the negotiations, rebuilding trust in COPs through transparency, clarity, and inclusion.
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Al Jaber pointed to the attendance of over 180 heads of state and government at the conference, the presence of a faith pavilion for the first time at a COP, the commitment of several oil companies to achieve climate neutrality, in addition to the record number of requests to attend the conference, which reached 97,000 participants in the blue zone, and 400,000 in the green zone.
COP28's Youth Climate Champion, Shamma Al Mazrui, the Minister of Community Development, emphasized the need to amplify the contributions of global charitable organizations to youth organizations, particularly in developing nations.
She explained that the UAE's decision to create the role of "COP28 Youth Climate Champion" aims to enhance young people's understanding of climate change and empower them to play an active role in addressing its impacts. She commended the leadership's unwavering support for collective action and the emphasis on inclusivity in the preparatory work for the conference.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (center), the United Arab Emirates' Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President; Shamma Al Mazrui (third left), the UAE's Minister of Community Development; Simon Steele (third right), Executive Director of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri (second left), the UAE's Minister of Climate Change and the Environment; Razan Al Mubarak (second left), the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion from the COP28 Presidency; Majid Al Suwaidi (first left), COP28 Director-General Ambassador; and Adnan Amin (first right), CEO of COP28, attend the COP28 media majlis in Dubai, the UAE, on Nov 29, 2023. (PHOTO / WAM - EMIRATES NEWS AGENCY)
Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, applauded the COP28 team's efforts on the food security front and underscored the UAE's unwavering commitment to addressing food and agriculture issues within the conference agenda.
She stressed that tackling the global food crisis requires a collective effort, extending beyond governments and the private sector. She advocated for a shift in human lifestyles and consumption patterns to effectively contribute to improving livelihoods.
Razan Al Mubarak, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion from the COP28 Presidency, highlighted her mission to mobilize stakeholders, inspire action, and empower all segments of society and its institutions to play a leading role in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. She showcased examples of the conference presidency team's successful efforts in supporting global climate neutrality initiatives.
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COP28 Director-General Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi called for an agreement on climate financing mechanisms during COP28 and urged all parties to collaborate in previous commitments to rebuild trust in the multilateral system, adopt a sustainable future-oriented financial framework, and increase climate financing from billions to trillions of dollars
COP28 Director-General Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi reiterated the critical role of financing in achieving tangible climate action. He acknowledged the current insufficiency of readily available, accessible, and affordable climate financing.
He called for an agreement on developing climate financing mechanisms during COP28 and urged all parties to collaborate in fulfilling previous commitments to rebuild trust in the multilateral system, adopt a sustainable future-oriented financial framework, and increase climate financing from billions to trillions of dollars.
Adnan Amin, CEO of COP28, expressed optimism about the collaborative spirit prevailing during the conference preparations. He affirmed the COP28 team's unwavering commitment to constructive cooperation with all parties concerned to forge consensus and achieve reliable and balanced outcomes that send a clear message to the world about the future of climate action.
Simon Steele, Executive Director of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing COP28's significance as the most crucial conference of the parties since the Paris Agreement.
He expressed hope that the achievements of the transitional committees throughout the year will empower the parties to resolve and agree upon complex challenges, and that COP28 will serve as a springboard for ambitious goals and achievements during COP29 and COP30 conferences, ultimately leading to an exponential increase in climate financing from billions to trillions of dollars.
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The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building and one of Dubai's landmarks, is illuminated ahead of the opening of COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Nov 29, 2023. (PHOTO / WAM - EMIRATES NEWS AGENCY)
World's tallest building illuminated ahead of COP28
In a historic first for COPs, the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building and one of Dubai's landmarks, was adorned with the logo of the Greening Education Hub – Legacy from the Land of Zayed – in celebration of its official opening at COP28.
Hours before the hub’s official opening, the facade of Burj Khalifa was illuminated with video clips showcasing the UAE's historical legacy of sustainability.
The visuals underscored the country’s keenness to boost its global network of relationships to integrate sustainability and climate issues into educational systems worldwide. The video served as an invitation to students and the public to explore the hub in the Mobility District at Expo City Dubai throughout COP28 – from 30 Nov to 12 Dec.
The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building and one of Dubai's landmarks, is illuminated ahead of the opening of COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Nov 29, 2023. (PHOTO / WAM - EMIRATES NEWS AGENCY)
The Ministry of Education has fostered partnerships with over 40 international partners, resulting in the development of more than 30 projects and activations around climate education at the Hub.
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The hub has attracted participants from 38 countries and will include more than 250 sessions and workshops. The total attendance is projected to exceed 18,000 over 13 days.
