UAE Organizes Green Retreat Event As A Prelude To COP28
The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment organized an event the ‘Green Retreat’ that hosted ministers and over 150 high-ranking officials from 50 government and private entities.
The event demonstrated the UAE’s commitment to addressing climate change and acted as a strategic prelude to the much-anticipated hosting of the Conference of Parties (COP28) later this year, according to Zawya.
The Green Retreat, held in Expo City Dubai, was motivated by the theme “United for Climate.” The event leveraged the combined strength of various stakeholders across the country, building on their triumphs in climate change action, environmental preservation, and sustainability promotion.
The retreat encouraged a collaborative approach to highlighting the UAE’s most significant activities in the lead-up to hosting COP28 in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023, through encouraging new ideas and projects.
The Green Retreat drew an influential group of attendees, including high-ranking officials from relevant federal and local government ministries and agencies, accelerator representatives, government media workplaces from the seven emirates, major private sector companies, and numerous prominent business leaders.
In accordance with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment will take the lead in coordinating the collaborative efforts of all government and private institutions in preparation for the highly anticipated COP28 summit.
A strategy for government cooperation
Seven Thematic Councils addressed crucial problems in the sustainability value chain during the Green Retreat.
Water resource management and conservation were among them, as were biodiversity and blue carbon ecosystem protection, private sector engagement and industry transformation, waste management and circular economy, sustainable transportation, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture and food security.
The Councils were made up of specialists from federal, state, and municipal governments, as well as the commercial sector, who examined various ideas and difficulties relating to each topic.
They presented ideas and projects to be undertaken by individual entities or via collaborative efforts.
Moreover, Each Council offered 8 to 10 initiatives and initiative ideas that were related to the appropriate subjects. As part of the preliminary plan for national climate actions until January 2024, the most viable and effective concepts were picked. Government media representatives also explored potential additions to the national climate action agenda.
Several media workgroups were formed to assist government agencies in presenting a consistent narrative for the COP28 conference and raising awareness in the UAE about this year’s key event. To guarantee progress in executing this strategy, periodic follow-up meetings were agreed upon.
