SHUROOQ AWAD (DUBAI)

With the approach of the 28th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), set to be held at Expo City Dubai in the UAE, from November 30 to December 12, the conference will witness the participation of a number of Emirati youth who have ventured into environmental and climate work.

Motivation and Inspiration

Mohammed Issa, a member of the UAE Youth Climate Delegates programme (YCDP), in a conversation with Aletihad, expressed his happiness in participating in COP28, as the conference represents an important milestone in his professional journey. Issa said that the conference will enhance his negotiation and presentation skills, especially related to climate change, and will teach him how to best share the UAE's view of climate change to other parties in a compelling manner.

Issa noted that he is eager to meet the 100 international youth delegates at the conference, which represent the group most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. The group also represents the various interests of less developed countries, developing island states, and minority groups around the world.

According to Issa, YCDP members will strive to push the world into realising the necessity of young people's participation at COP28 and their fundamental role in this crucial decade for climate action, especially the youth from communities most vulnerable to climate impacts. This requires young people to collaborate to find tangible and effective solutions, through topics such as adaptation, loss and damage mitigation, and climate financing.

He pointed out that the UAE's hosting of a global event like COP28 is a natural result of its distinguished record of achievements in hosting global events and the country's tremendous efforts to confront the consequences of climate change. He confirmed that the future vision of the UAE and the wise vision of its leadership make it ideal to host the largest global climate change event.

Issa explained how he joined the YCDP by applying for membership, which was available to Emiratis and UAE residents between 18 and 35 years old. He stressed the need for young people to play an active role in supporting climate action, stating that preserving the planet and addressing the consequences of climate change is not the sole responsibility of governments, but falls on all members of society.

COP28 has a clear vision of benefitting from the experiences and opinions of young people, as shown through the YCDP, which reflects the UAE leadership's vision to establish a global model for empowering and building the capabilities of young people with the aim for them to become ambassadors during the decisive decision-making process for climate action.

A young Emirati, Fatima Al Musawi will participate in the exhibition area and events held on the sidelines of COP28. Her project reflects the youth's interest in sustainability, enhancing their success stories in overcoming difficulties, to motivate and inspire the attendees. She explained that her project, "Shay Yafand Al-Ras" is related to health, the environment, and sustainability. It focuses on conducting several research projects on the circular economic use of tea leaves to create a sustainable chain called "Tea Energy" to recycle tea waste for various uses.

Al Musawi said that the organisers of COP28 chose to display her project among a group of national youth projects at the conference, in order to highlight the importance of the youth's role in economic development and sustainability. This will motivate and inspire the conference attendees with success stories of Emirati youth. She noted that the UAE hosting COP28 reflects the interest and commitment of the UAE and the region in achieving climate neutrality.

This interest is not new to the UAE, as it has a legacy of sustainability established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who said: "We cherish our environment because it is an integral part of our country, our history and our heritage. On land and in the sea, our forefathers lived and survived in this environment. They were able to do so only because they recognised the need to conserve it, to take from it only what they needed to live, and to preserve it for succeeding generations." Al Musawi referred to the wise UAE leadership, which she said is characterised by a visionary future outlook.

Fatima Al Marzouqi is preparing to present her project, "Agricultural Pens", which is considered one of the leading youth projects to be displayed in the exhibition area and sideline events of COP28. Al Marzouqi said that the Emirati youth projects being featured during the conference is one of the initiatives adopted by the Ministry of Culture and Youth within the framework of the country's preparations for COP28.

Al Marzouqi's project offers eco-friendly products for everyday life, the most important of which are plantable pens that contain various vegetable and grain seeds, allowing individuals to use the pens for writing and colouring first, and then reuse them for planting. In addition, her project includes reusable and recyclable bags, which aim to reduce the use of plastic products within the country.

She confirmed that the UAE government always seeks to enhance the role of youth in climate action across various sectors by raising their awareness, creating new entrepreneurial opportunities for young people, and educating them about the major challenges.

The UAE has always been a leader in many fields, including raising environmental awareness and spreading an environmentally friendly culture, she said. This is in addition to its role in educating society, which is shown through the country's strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, making the UAE the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to declare such a goal.