COP28 UAE Higher Committee Weighs Up COP28’s Vision
As UAE has been selected as the host country of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP28 UAE). In this regard, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the COP 28 Higher Committee, met with the committee members to discuss COP28’s vision, strategic priorities, preparations, and milestones in the lead-up to the UAE-hosted climate summit.
“As the host country of COP28, the UAE is mandated to foster global consensus and guide an urgent, comprehensive, and coordinated response to climate change in this decade of action.
COP28 will bring together the heads of state, business leaders, civil society, the scientific community, youth, and all segments of society, as we deliberate where the world stands today on climate action, and what must be done to shift from promises to progress by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement.”, said H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.
During the committee meeting, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-Designate and Vice Chairman of the Higher Committee, offered key insights and outcomes from COP28 Presidency’s global listening and engagement tour, which included visits to India, China, Japan, Germany, France, the UK, and the US.
“Climate change is more than just an environmental challenge. It is also an economic issue. We need an approach that ensures economic prosperity and energy access in parallel with emissions reductions. COP28 will be working with all stakeholders to accelerate a business-oriented approach that balances climate action with sustainable economic and social development. We must act together to ignite a transformational COP28 agenda that is pro-growth, pro-climate, and leaves no one behind”, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said.
“As the COP28 Presidency continues on its global listening and engagement tour, we are issuing a call for greater climate cooperation to accelerate progress across the core climate pillars. We have also been affirming the need for a just and pragmatic energy transition, and supporting reforms of International Financial Institutions and Multilateral Development banks to enable more affordable, accessible, and available climate finance, especially for the Global South. We are committed to shaping an inclusive COP28 agenda where everyone has an opportunity to be heard and contribute to the process.”
Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development and the Youth Climate Champion for COP28, shared more on the overwhelmingly positive response to the COP28-launched International Youth Climate Delegate Program, announced at last month’s ‘Road to COP28’ youth-led and community-wide event. The ‘Road to COP28’ event at Expo City Dubai brought together more than 3,000 participants across UAE’s society to raise climate awareness and inspire action in the Year of Sustainability. The COP28 UAE Higher Committee includes ministers and government officials that represent all areas of the government, industries, and sectors to coordinate nationwide efforts for the climate summit.
During the meeting, Committee members were updated on the vision for COP28. The meeting also included an overview on logistics and protocol by Muhammad Al Junaibi, Chairman of the Federal Authority for Protocols and Strategic Narratives; security and operations, by Talal Belhoul Director-General of the State Security Department at Dubai Police; and the COP28 venue transportation plan by Mattar Al Tayer Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Further updates were provided by Suhail Al Mazrouei Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Mariam Al Mheiri Minister of Climate Change and the Environment.
