Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (WAM)
The United Arab Emirates proudly concluded its successful participation at COP29, highlighting its ongoing commitment to global climate action and the COP28 legacy.
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan attended the opening of the World Climate Action Summit.
The UAE delegation engaged proactively across the conference, including the COP Presidency handover to Azerbaijan on the first day, participation in plenaries, high-level dialogues, and presentations at the UAE Pavilion under the theme "Accelerating Action Together.”
Building on the achievements of the COP28 Presidency, the UAE remains committed to playing an effective and ambitious role as a global steward in climate action.
Throughout COP29, the UAE has proudly demonstrated its unwavering dedication to fostering sustainable and impactful environmental initiatives worldwide.
Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, and Head of the UAE Delegation at COP29, said, "Climate action has been embedded in the UAE since its inception. The unprecedented achievements at COP28 and the UAE Consensus contributed to the roadmap for how climate needs to be prioritised. Constructive diplomatic efforts are central to climate action, and we will continue to promote the value of the Consensus signed by 198 nations in Dubai. The legacy is an enduring one thanks to the UAE’s climate action efforts and the COP28 team whose presidency year was exemplary for its many achievements,”
"Congratulations to Azerbaijan for hosting the event and convening the world at COP to maintain dialogue and focus on the critical climate issues of our time. During the conference, notable progress was made in multiple areas, including the operationalisation of the Loss & Damage Fund which has now amassed over $940m. COP29 has also demonstrated the significant technological progress achieved, highlighting innovative new tools that can realise a future where the climate issues of today become the climate opportunities of tomorrow. As we look forward to both COP16 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and COP30 in Brazil, we commit to greater global alignment, cooperation, implementation, and solutions-identification.”
The UAE was represented at COP29 by a delegation of over 1,000 including Ministers from ministries and departments from the COP28 team, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Climate Change and Energy, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Health.
The delegation included several key figures in UAE climate action, among them H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Mariam bint Mohammed AlMheiri, Head of the Office of International Affairs at the Presidential Court; Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators; Razan Al Mubarak, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28; and many officials from various entities and authorities in the UAE.
Over the course of two weeks, the UAE Pavilion - staffed by a dedicated team of guest experience ambassadors - welcomed thousands of Blue Zone attendees who participated in discussions and tours.
Among the visitors were heads of government, ministers, high-level representatives from global and local organisations, as well as private sector companies from various industries.
The many initiatives launched or updated during the conference include the operational launch of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), the establishment of the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance, and the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), led by the UAE and the USA, which announced additional investment commitments totalling $29.2 billion, along with 129 Innovation project and over 800 global partnerships.
Other notable initiatives included the launch of AIM for Scale, the world’s first ChatGPT tool for the agricultural community, the launch of Chapter Zero UAE, and the signing of a 2-GW solar project in Saudi Arabia by the Masdar-led consortium in partnership with the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC).
Masdar also signed a power purchase agreement with the Financial Settlement Centre for Renewable Energy Sources Support LLP for a wind farm in Kazakhstan.
The Pavilion was proudly used as a platform for multiple Memorandum of Understanding and agreement signings.
The UAE endorsed declarations related to key climate priorities, including the COP29 Truce Appeal, the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, the Green Energy Pledge, the Green Energy Zones and Corridors, the Hydrogen Declaration, the Declaration on Green Digital Action, the Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste, the Multisectoral Actions Pathways (MAP) Declaration for Resilient and Healthy Cities, and the Declaration on Water for Climate Action.
The UAE Pavilion also hosted insightful discussions across 62 programes, reflecting a shared commitment to creating solutions for building climate resilience around the world, particularly in the most challenged areas.
The programmes featured over 255 diverse speakers, including UAE diplomats and representatives, climate experts, government officials, private sector leaders, academics, and youth.
International thought leaders and COP29 participants attended to exchange ideas, engage in thoughtful dialogues, and share global perspectives on current critical climate matters.
With global convening conversations partner, Goals House, the National Media Office's "UAE/Climate initiative” hosted additional programmes on climate finance, water scarcity, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
At COP29, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also led broad engagements to build momentum for the UN 2026 Water Conference, which the UAE is co-hosting with Senegal in December 2026.
The Ministry's delegation held several sessions and consultations with stakeholders across sectors to identify innovative solutions and impactful outcomes for the conference.
Through these engagements, the UAE also showcased various efforts on water such as the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and Clear Rivers.
The UAE’s vital climate action work continues with Global Food Week in Abu Dhabi next week (November 26-28), where food security for global transformation will be discussed by national and international partners to highlight building secure, sustainable food systems.
The following week, the UAE/Climate team will be on the ground again, this time at COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In January 2025, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will be hosted in Abu Dhabi, bringing together leaders from various governments, the private sector, and civil society to showcase solutions and innovations in clean energy, aiming to accelerate sustainable development and economic, social, and environmental progress.
