SHUROOQ AWAD (DUBAI)

The UAE proved its ability to lead the world towards achieving climate and development goals during its presidency of the COP28 conference.

The UAE gathered about 180 countries and 500,000 participants, with more than 97,000 in the Blue Zone and 400,000 in the Green Zone, including ministers, representatives from non-governmental organisations, the private sector, indigenous peoples, and youth, to envision a future for humanity living on a clean planet with reduced carbon emissions, aiming to limit the rise in Earth’s temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

During the climate event, extensive discussions about the future of the planet took place. The UAE launched several international climate-related initiatives, encouraging other countries to follow its lead.

Supporting Climate Finance

The UAE’s initiatives have enhanced its position before the world in leading efforts to promote sustainable solutions to climate challenges and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals at COP28.

The country led the global climate financial action through its successful management of the negotiation process during the conference. The UAE participated in various ways to support climate finance, starting from mobilising all parties with communication, coordination, and different arrangements to ensure the conference’s success.

The UAE’s climate diplomacy achieved its objectives, with effective results from the first day, beginning with the announcement of activating the Global Climate Fund, the UAE’s contribution of $100 million, launching a $30-billion fund for global climate solutions, allocating $150 million to address water resource scarcity and water security solutions in fragile and weak communities globally, in addition to national banks’ pledges to mobilise Dh1 trillion or about $270 billion for green financing.

The country also actively participated in launching new pledges and various initiatives, including reaching a historic agreement to activate the Climate Impact Response Fund, which witnessed pledges and funding arrangements exceeding $720 million.

With a strong focus on private capital, the UAE launched a climate investment fund named “Alterra” with a stimulating capital of $30 billion, and opened $200 million for special drawing rights. The World Bank announced an increase of $9 billion annually for financing climate-related projects, and the multilateral development banks announced a cumulative increase exceeding $22.6 billion for climate action.

The conference also saw an additional renewal of $3.5 billion for the resources of the Green Climate Fund, while an amount of $133.6 million was announced for the Adaptation fund.

Investments in Energy, Hydrogen, and Water

Reflecting the UAE’s commitment to the global energy transition and its support for the economic, climate, and social gains of countries worldwide, the initiative of the UAE’s Amea Power company is significant. It is based on signing seven agreements with African countries to produce 430 megawatts of renewable energy, in addition to building storage batteries and a project for producing green hydrogen.

Supporting Women in the Middle East and North Africa

As part of the UAE’s commitment to enabling women in the Middle East and North Africa to play an active role in combating climate change and accelerating sustainable development, the strategic partnership initiative between the Women for Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy platform and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development reflects this commitment.

The initiative focuses on providing necessary expertise through hosting conferences, seminars, and educational workshops, aiming to empower women in the region and enhance their participation in inclusive climate efforts.

Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies

As global awareness of the pivotal role of nuclear energy in reducing the global carbon footprint increases, the UAE is keen to explore opportunities for joint cooperation in the nuclear energy sector. A prime example is the initiative of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, in collaboration with the UK’s Ministry for Energy Security and Net Zero, which focuses on exploring cooperation opportunities in developing and using large-capacity nuclear reactors, advanced nuclear technologies including small modular reactors, and related areas, ranging from nuclear security to fuel supply”.

As the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant approaches full operation, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation is seeking more international cooperation opportunities to support the growth of nuclear energy technology worldwide and accelerate the development of advanced nuclear energy technologies to enhance the transition to clean energy sources.

Green Education

Recognising the contribution of education in building and enhancing capacities to overcome climate and environmental challenges in various countries and raising awareness about these issues, the UAE Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Climate Education Office and Alef Education, launched the Educators’ Voice Platform. This platform reflects the country’s direction regarding the role of education in addressing the impacts of climate change.

It aims to provide and enrich green education resources for teachers and educational officials from all over the world through open sources, enabling them to develop their climate readiness. The launch of the state’s Greening Education Hub themed “Legacy from the Land of Zayed”, enables countries around the world to benefit from the Emirati model in developing the capabilities of teachers and educators.

The centre has attracted a wide range of partners from 38 countries around the world, providing a global platform that brings together leaders, experts, and specialists, and has received support from 99 non-governmental organisations and 36 local entities that believe in the importance of supporting climate education.


Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture

With the UAE’s awareness of the contribution of global food and water systems in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and maintaining the possibility of avoiding an increase in Earth’s temperature beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, the UAE’s initiative on food systems and sustainable agriculture and climate action has been ratified by 152 countries.

It lays the foundation for these countries to comprehensively develop their food systems and integrate these commitments into their climate strategies, while ensuring the improvement and protection of livelihoods of communities dependent on food and agriculture sectors, ultimately serving the development of a sustainable future food system.

The main announcements regarding the comprehensive development of food systems during the Food and Agriculture Day at COP28 included the Agricultural Innovation for Climate initiative, which announced an increase of $3.4 billion in total financing for climate-smart food and agricultural systems, achieving 27 innovation leaps, and funding from several charitable entities amounting to $389 million to support food producers and consumers.

Additionally, the COP28 presidency, along with a group of international organisations and governments, contributed $200 million to support the “Technical Cooperation Committee”. Italy pledged an additional commitment of up to $10.7 million (10 million euros) to be provided over the next two years, and the United Kingdom announced a new commitment of approximately $48 million (45 million British pounds) over the next five years, with its flows to be channelled through the World Bank’s Food Systems 2030 Trust Fund.

Protecting Nature and Climate

With the UAE’s commitment to protecting nature, land, and oceans while maintaining the possibility of achieving the 1.5°C goal, it has focused on cooperation with indigenous peoples and local communities who care for these vital assets.

This cooperation resulted in leaders signing commitments and pledges at the conference to provide new funding of more than $186 million for nature and climate protection, for the conservation and development of forests, mangroves, and oceans. This supports the financing goals of $2.5 billion, raised and stimulated for nature conservation and development during the Global Summit for Climate Action at COP28 held on December 2.

The joint statement from the COP28 Presidency and the Republic of China, as the current president of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), represents one of the important outcomes of Nature Day. The statement received support from 18 countries leading the Climate and Nature Partnership and 11 partnerships for biodiversity in the context of protecting and developing forests, mangroves, and oceans.

The statement includes new commitments from countries to develop and implement strategies supporting climate action and nature conservation. The UAE contributed new funding of $100 million for nature conservation projects and tackling climate change impacts, including an initial investment of $30 million in the Ghana Climate Resilience Enhancement Plan issued by the Ghanaian government.

The UAE also formed a two-year strategic partnership with Brazil, linking the outcomes and outputs between COP28 and COP30.

Friends of Climate Action Group

Thinking outside the box, the UAE recognised early on the contribution of climate change to consequences that extend beyond the ecological system, affecting social and cultural systems as well. Climate action based on culture provides an effective and comprehensive solution that helps achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The initiative, which brought together the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Brazilian Ministry of Culture, reflects the country’s thinking in this area. The initiative led to the launch of the Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action Group under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This new alliance, comprising 33 countries and several United Nations agencies, calls for recognising the pivotal role of culture in climate change policies.

The alliance aims to stimulate political momentum for effective, interconnected, and coherent multilateral action, officially recognising the importance of culture and heritage in climate activities.

Waste Treatment and Recycling

Committed to building a new phase with countries and enabling them to achieve environmental targets and improve the quality of life for residents, the UAE’s Bee’ah Group initiative, based on signing an agreement with the Egyptian New Administrative Capital Company, translates the country’s directions in this field.

The initiative involves establishing a new company focused on developing waste management, treatment, and recycling services, in line with Egypt’s 2030 vision and diverting 80% of waste away from landfills. The initiative will also support partners in achieving their targets, making the city a distinguished front, a modern and smart capital, by transferring over 15 years of experience.

It will also work on training and qualifying a generation of Egyptian personnel to lead environmental work and support the country’s journey towards building and prosperity. Attracting Talents The UAE, as a leader in the fields of innovation and artificial intelligence, explores cooperation opportunities at multiple levels, including enhancing human capabilities in artificial intelligence, developing projects for the industrial sector, and concrete solutions on the ground, including sustainability solutions, and financing venture capital for startups in the field of artificial intelligence.