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DUBAI, 11th May, 2023 (WAM) — Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, participated in a series of bilateral meetings and panel discussions organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in cooperation with the UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. The goal is to emphasize the importance of strengthening the UAE-US relationship and expanding cooperation between the two countries in investment, food security, agricultural innovation, climate change solutions, and sustainable financing, among other important areas of cooperation.
Her participation in these discussions and meetings was part of her recent visit to the US capital, where she participated in the three-day Agricultural Innovation for Climate Summit (AIM for Climate). Also attending the summit were prominent figures such as US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, US Presidential Climate Envoy John Kerry, and many ministers and representatives from various governments and NGOs who participated in the summit’s AIM climate initiative.
Almheiri participated in the panel discussion along with a group of representatives from the US-UAE Business Council, as well as from companies in the aviation, insurance, banking, entertainment industries, and various key US sectors operating in the US agriculture and food industries. This was in addition to another meeting and a series of related bilateral meetings held in collaboration with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Almheiri said, “The relationship between the UAE and the United States is growing in various areas, especially cooperation in such important areas as food security and the fight against climate change, investment, sustainable financing. This presents us with an opportunity to strengthen our Support to expand this collaboration. The Joint Summit on Innovation in Agriculture for Climate has been a huge success in the two years since its launch, encouraging countries to commit to investment in agricultural innovation to enhance food security, while reducing emissions from all activities related to agriculture. On the other side is the agricultural sector.”
She added: “This direction invites us to expand our cooperation with the US side by meeting many officials and entities, discussing with them ways of working together, exchanging our experience and vision, and benefiting from the latest relevant insights. We thank the UAE The embassy collaborated in organizing many of these meetings and worked with us on all our shared goals to strengthen the UAE’s position as a trusted partner in finding solutions to various global challenges.”
Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States, said: “Climate change is having a major impact on the way we grow and produce food. The UAE and the United States are leading a global effort to address this challenge. We are mobilizing governments, the private sector and civil society to strengthen food security , making agriculture and food production more earth-friendly.”
Productive Meetings and Discussions
The UAE Embassy in Washington DC organized a panel discussion that brought together HE Mariam Almheiri and representatives from the US-UAE Business Council, aviation, insurance, banking, entertainment industry companies, and the US agriculture and food sectors.
She showcased the UAE’s investment capabilities, ease of doing business, and the scale of reciprocal investment between the UAE and the US, especially in the food sector. She also exchanged views on the investment prospects of the two countries and areas where progress can be made in investment and sustainable financing in the coming period.
At the meeting, HE Almheiri advocated for increased US investment in the UAE. She highlighted her country’s potential for business in technology, especially agricultural innovation. This is spurred by challenges facing the UAE, such as water scarcity and limited agricultural land. She emphasized that modern agricultural technologies are crucial to attracting foreign investment to the UAE as it looks to strengthen its food security, implement technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of the agricultural sector, and meet its climate obligations.
HE Mariam Almheiri also participated in a special session organized by the UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C. in cooperation with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). During the meeting, which included a group of policy experts in the field of food security, she highlighted the UAE’s commitment to enhancing dialogue and cooperation on climate change and food security. This is part of its global commitment, not least as the UAE prepares to host COP28, the United Nations climate change conference, in November.
Additionally, she shed light on the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development and climate action. She mentioned the UAE’s pioneering initiatives such as the National Food Security Strategy 2051, the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, and the UAE’s Nationally Determined Contributions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. These efforts form part of the UAE’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and other policies to ensure emissions reduction targets are met by 2050 as part of a climate-neutral strategy. She also highlighted the UAE’s efforts to enhance biodiversity and implement key regulations to ensure economic industry compliance with environmental and climate standards.
HE Almheiri affirmed the UAE’s ambition to establish a global leadership in innovation-driven food security by 2051. She highlighted the need to boost global agricultural trade, diversify international food sources and strengthen local production of sustainable, technology-based food.
Almheiri also attended bilateral meetings with various officials and prominent personalities. The meetings focused on areas such as strengthening agricultural innovation, enhancing cooperation in areas such as food security and its role in combating climate change, and investment and financing.
Discussions included a special meeting between Almheiri and John Kerry, another meeting with Dr. Cary Fowler, US Special Envoy for Food Security, and a bilateral meeting with US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai. She also met with U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and met with U.S. Senator Jay Costa.
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