Today's Edition
FATIMA AL WARD (DUBAI)
Nickolay Mladenov, Director General of the Anwar Garrash Diplomatic Academy, affirmed that hosting the Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai embodies the leading role of the UAE in combating climate change and enhancing joint global action in this vital field, demonstrating the country's firm commitment to promoting sustainability concepts.
Speaking to Aletihad, Mladenov said: "The current edition of the conference is a successful experience that positively reflects and highlights the leading role of Emirati diplomacy and its ability to mobilise global efforts to find solutions to climate change."
He added that the outcomes of this conference will enhance the UAE's global standing as they centre around achieving international security and peace.
"This is very important at this time, given the climatic developments we are witnessing in the Middle East and the world. Climate change has become one of the biggest problems we currently face, with a large number ofpeople being displaced due to lack of drinking water and food supplies," he continued, also mentioning the steady rise in temperatures and increasing rainfall.
Mladenov highlighted the significance of the UAE's announc ment and adoption of several positive commitments and actions in partnership with governments, companies, investors, and charitable institutions during the early days of the conference to address the serious effects of climate change. This, according toMladenov, naturally leads to significant success for COP28.
Discussing the preparation of young diplomats in the field of climate action, he said that the conference contributes to training young diplomats, offering extensive experience in environmental negotiations.
The Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy engages its students in the conference for practical experience and learning from the best global expertise and decision-makers, taking lessons from ongoing negotiations and agreements to understand geopolitical issues, which require very strong negotiating skills, he noted.
DuringCOP28, the academy focuses on preparing young Emirati diplomats by integrating diplomatic sciences with climate change science effectively, contributing to enhancing the capabilities and skills of a large number of young Emirati diplomats as negotiators or mediators, according to Mladenov.
"Many of our students participated in practical and theoretical courses, and we are working on preparing Emirati diplomatic cadres capable of helping the world find solutions to the climate change challenges faced globally," he added.
Mladenov appreciated the UAE's hosting of COP28, which provided a great opportunity to introduce leaders and influencers to innovative environmental solutions and follow up on strategic negotiations, in addition to listening to the commitments presented by governments in environmental fields. He considered that the outputs of the conference would mark a turning point in adopting the ambitious approach announced by the UAE in various fields, including food, health, peace, security, and renewable energy, contributing to agreements that help address climate issues.
He added that the UAE has set a standard for implementing its commitments, contributing $100 million to the Climate Loss and Damage Fund announced on day one of the conference, and establishing a $30 billion fund for global climate solutions that helps bridge the climate financing gap and facilitate access to it at an appropriate cost, aiming to mobilise $250 billion by 2030.
Mladenov also noted that the Centre for Climate Diplomacy, launched by the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, reflects a strong will and robust approach aimed at preparing Emirati diplomats and equipping them with scientific tools to understand climate variations and better prepare them for negotiating challenges in this field in the future.
"It is no longer enough for a diplomat to only understand foreign policy; they must understand the science behind it, possess special skills, and gain special experiences to deal with such complex multilateral negotiations as we see in COP28," he said.
