COP27: UAE to tackle climate change impacts as world gathers in Egypt – News

Countries to highlight their climate actions, solutions and achievements, as well as preparations to host COP28 at the summit

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Starting Sunday, more than 120 world leaders will gather to discuss ways to tackle climate change at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The annual summit witnesses climate change negotiations and decisions to limit global warming and accelerate the transition to green energy.

At the summit a year after COP26 in Glasgow, the UAE will highlight its climate actions, solutions and achievements, as well as preparations to host COP28 next year, state news agency WAM said.

The UAE delegation’s priorities will include addressing the impacts of climate change, ensuring a viable transformation of the energy sector, supporting economic growth and enhancing access to technology.

The UAE’s tremendous achievements in climate action are an opportunity to help find practical solutions to this global problem that affects everyone. Recently, the UAE and the US signed a comprehensive strategic partnership to invest $100 billion in clean energy. Infinity Power Holding (a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Masdar and Egypt’s Infinity), which has proven its capabilities to the world, will provide zero-carbon energy for COP27.

The summit comes as the world is witnessing an increase in climate-related disasters. Through discussions among the world’s top thinkers, the summit is expected to come up with concrete proposals for tackling climate change, rising temperatures, and complying with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree target.

The Sharm El Sheikh International Conference Centre (SHICC) will form the blue area of ​​COP27 – where all the important negotiations between delegates will take place.

The COP27 President’s Special Representative, Ambassador Wael Aboulmagd, was hopeful, saying that the Egyptian presidency team worked tirelessly to create “an enabling environment for successful negotiations”.

“As hosts of the COP, we are keen to bring together representatives of countries and stakeholders from around the world and provide the necessary impetus to take the necessary action to implement climate commitments and commitments urgently and at scale.”

Earlier, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the High Committee overseeing preparations for COP28, noted that the UAE delegation will focus on “supporting Egypt’s presidency of COP27”.

Through close cooperation with Egypt, the UAE will link the outcomes of COP27 and COP28 to support climate action and raise awareness of its vision and efforts to achieve sustainable development.

With more than 40,000 attendees expected, the summit is expected to be one of the most attended and will run until November 18th.

The UAE delegation included representatives from government and private sector agencies, business leaders, civil society organisations, women and youth. The 22,500 sqm “green zone” is an opportunity for business, young people, artists and climate actors to engage in dialogue and engagement through events, exhibitions, seminars, cultural performances and lectures.

Climate Action in the UAE

During the event, the UAE will highlight its commitment to addressing climate impacts, which have become a key issue for countries in the southern hemisphere.

The UAE has embarked on an ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, making the country the first Middle East and North African country to do so. The country is a global leader in the energy transition, investing more than $50 billion in global clean energy technologies and solutions over the past 10 years, building three of the world’s largest and lowest-cost solar projects. The UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy programme further underlines the UAE’s energy diversification strategy.

The UAE is one of the world’s largest donors of humanitarian aid and provides direct aid during climate-related disasters and conflicts, the impacts of which are exacerbated by climate change. The country was the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement in 2015.

The UAE has announced a plan to increase the number of mangroves to 100 million trees by 2030 to promote natural solutions to limit the effects of climate change, protect biodiversity and help build natural carbon reservoirs.

In September 2022, the UAE launched an updated version of its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 31% by 2030.

The UAE is a leading global investor in renewable energy projects, allocating $100 billion to projects in more than 70 countries by 2030. It empowers communities around the world and provides sustainable solutions through initiatives such as the Zayed Sustainability Award.

The UAE is empowering youth by hosting institutions such as the Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

The UAE has three of the largest solar power plants in the world and is the first country in the region to utilize carbon capture and storage technology on a large scale, while diversifying emission-free energy sources including peaceful nuclear and hydrogen.

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