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ABU DHABI, 20th April, 2023 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President, has stressed that sustainable economic development and climate action are closely linked and essential to ensuring a better life for all. A better quality of life is essential.
His Highness also stressed that the UAE has placed climate action at the heart of its strategy, focusing on achieving sustainable economic and social growth while fulfilling its responsibilities to the environment and future generations.
His Highness was speaking at the Major Economies Energy and Climate Change Forum (MEF) virtual meeting chaired by US President Joe Biden, which brings together leaders of the world’s major economies and heads of government.
The UAE was invited to participate in view of its upcoming hosting of COP28, the twenty-eighth meeting of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
In his speech during the forum, His Highness the President said: “The UAE is the first Gulf country to ratify the Paris Agreement and the first country in the region to commit to reducing emissions across all economic sectors by 2030. It also announced that by 2050 A strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality in 2019. We have invested more than $150 billion in climate action and have ambitious plans for further investments in this area in the future.
His Highness affirmed that the UAE, as the Presidency of COP28, is committed to transformative climate action, moving from deliberation to action and developing a comprehensive action plan for the benefit of all people and the planet.
“Energy and climate change are closely linked,” said His Highness, “and the world must therefore accelerate a logical, realistic and balanced transition in the energy sector by at least tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling hydrogen production. Strengthen International cooperation on technology transfer and providing the necessary financing to support the energy transition and address loss and damage is critical, especially in the global South and communities most vulnerable to climate change.”
Emphasizing the importance of developed countries fulfilling their pledge to provide US$100 billion to developing countries, His Highness stressed the need to reform international financial institutions and ensure the financing necessary to stimulate investment in support of climate action. The UAE President said that while the risks of climate change have intensified, there is still a chance to prevent its dire consequences because of a genuine determination to take immediate and collective global action. He stressed that the UAE is committed to making COP28 an important milestone in achieving this goal.
Concluding his remarks, His Highness made an open invitation to the world to join the UAE’s efforts and initiatives aimed at achieving significant progress on climate action. He expressed confidence and optimism that the world would respond positively to this invitation.
Participants at the MEF included: Joseph R. Biden Jr., President of the United States of America, Alberto Fernandez, President of the Argentine Republic, Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, Justin Trudeau, Member of Parliament for Canada, Republic of Chile President Gabriel Borik, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council Charles Michel, Olaf Scholz, Minister of the European Union Joko Widodo, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Fumio Kishida, President of the Republic of Indonesia, Han Duk-soo, Prime Minister of Japan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Jonas, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gal Steller, Prime Minister of Norway, and Recep, President of the Republic of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Antonio Guterres, Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Agnes Panier-Runach, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Roberto Cingolani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member and Climate Envoy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Alok Sharma MP, Chair of COP26, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
The UAE has a strong record of aggressive climate action, diplomacy and multilateral cooperation. The country has become a regional leader in domestic and global investment in clean and renewable energy projects. The UAE operates three of the world’s largest and most cost-effective solar power plants and is a regional leader in the use of nuclear power.
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