Today's Edition
RABI HAMAMSAH (DUBAI)
COP28 started with a historic deal to finally launch and capitalise a fund that helps developing countries combat climate change. The UAE announced a $100 million commitment to the Loss and Damage Fund, as COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber delivered an early victory for the Fund.
The Loss and Damage Fund has been a long-standing demand of the most vulnerable nations on the frontlines of climate change dealing with the cost of the devastation caused by the increasingly harsh weather events such as drought, floods, and rising seas.
''This is a great move from our country towards helping developing countries to face climate change impacts. The UAE is always one of the first countries to help and support all needy countries at all levels. The world saw this step done by the UAE, and I am sure other countries will contribute to the fund in order to solve problems related to climate change impacts,'' Emirati COP28 participant Saif Al Mansoori told Aleithad.
''The UAE has always been a leader in combating climate change and a pioneer in the region when they announced their Net-Zero target, and it was the first country in the region to be in this level of engagement to be part of international efforts to deal with climate change impacts. This step will not only encourage countries to support the Loss and Damage Fund, but also the private sector in the world to help and support the most vulnerable countries to mitigate and adapt,'' he added.
Other participants find the UAE's announcement ''a step in the right direction'', to draw the attention of the world to the Fund. Mustafa Bosca, Co-Founder and Chief Decarbonisation Officer at CarbonSifr from Türkiye, believes the UAE's efforts towards aiding the Fund will make a difference soon.
''It was a needed step, and from that perspective it was a big achievement to start COP28 with such an announcement, as the expectations from the last several COPs were to support developing countries to be able to take on decarbonisation and follow the way to reach net-zero emissions. The step is important, because we live on one planet, so decarbonising industries has a cost, but benefits the entire humanity. Supporting the Loss and Damage Fund by the UAE is a big achievement for the planet and for all of us,'' he told Aletihad.
Simone Zerbinati, a Brazilian activist taking part in COP28, told Aleithad that her hopes are growing bigger that soon all the countries will help developing countries to cope with climate change effects.
''My hopes are now getting bigger that all the countries, especially the ones that did not help to support the Fund, will now act and follow the UAE's step and efforts in helping the most vulnerable countries to face climate change impacts.''
