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A recent “Green Retreat” highlighted the urgent need for the world to confront the climate challenge and promote sustainability across sectors to ensure a better future for future generations.
“Our top priority is to advance climate action and mobilize national capacity to ensure the success of COP28,” said Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
The goal, she said, is to present a model during COP28 that reflects the country’s position and climate efforts, and strengthen the country’s role in delivering innovative and inspiring solutions to global climate challenges, while fostering a climate resilient world.
Organized by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, a leader in global climate initiatives, the green retreat hosted ministers and over 150 senior officials from 50 government and private entities.
fight climate change
The collaborative event demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to address climate change and serves as a strategic precursor to the country’s highly anticipated Conference of the Parties (COP28) later this year.
The Green Retreat was held at Dubai Expo City on the theme ‘Uniting Against Climate Change’. The campaign draws on the collective strength of various stakeholders, building on their achievements in national climate change action, environmental protection and sustainable development promotion. By fostering innovative ideas and projects, the retreat fosters a collaborative approach to showcase the UAE’s most impactful initiatives ahead of COP28 in Dubai, scheduled to take place from 30 November to 12 December 2023.
Also present at the green retreat were Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of the United Arab Emirates Independent Climate Change Accelerator (UICCA); Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy; Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; and Minister of Education Dr. Ahmad Abdullah Humaid Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi; and Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Youth.
Almheiri added: “Green Retreat offers participants an invaluable opportunity to learn about the UAE’s excellent climate action record and contribute their ambitious ideas to drive the country towards tangible progress towards sustainable economic growth. Our The goal is to harness the potential of clean energy by developing a comprehensive climate action plan involving all government and private agencies that will create significant opportunities for economic growth and diversification, create jobs for youth, foster inclusive and cohesive communities, Protect natural habitats and protect the environment.”
national focus
Al Marri said: “Given the importance of this important issue and its direct impact on the overall development process at the national and global levels, it is a national priority to coordinate all government efforts in the country in preparation for hosting COP28. Unprecedented challenges due to climate change will continue to keep this issue at the top of the global dialogue agenda for years to come.”
Over the next three decades, the country will invest more than AED600 billion (US$163 billion) in clean and renewable energy, he said. He emphasized that the country’s economic vision for the next 50 years is to transition to a low-carbon and more diversified economic model that can meet the requirements of sustainable development.
Al Mazrouei said: The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) has launched several projects and initiatives to sustain the energy, infrastructure, housing and transport sectors. We work tirelessly with our partners to reduce energy and water footprints and drive the transition to a green economy for sustainable development across all industries. That’s why we run demand-side management (DSM) programs in the built environment, agriculture, industry and transportation that could save up to 40 percent of energy consumption and 50 percent of water consumption by 2050.
Uniform Building Code
“We have also implemented a harmonized building code that contributes to the goals of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, and the National Energy and Water DSM programme. To reduce the carbon footprint of one of the highest carbon-intensive transport sectors , we seek to enhance green transportation.”
Al Falasi said: “Education plays a key role in spreading awareness and building societies’ resilience, adaptation and response to climate change, thereby helping to sustain the planet. Therefore, the Ministry of Education is committed to achieving the Goals of the Green Education Partnership.
“Through this partnership, we are focusing on four main areas of action, namely: Greening Schools, Greening Learning, Greening Communities, and Greening Capacity and Readiness. We are also working with more than 30 local and international partners using a comprehensive An integrated approach to addressing these areas and as an educational model for the benefit of the region and the world.”
cultural heritage
Al Qassimi said: “While culture is seen as a key resource for mitigating and adapting to climate change, it is also a resource threatened by its negative impacts. Natural disasters caused by climate change can have a huge impact on our cultural and natural heritage, Leading to the loss of important cultural elements of environmentally relevant communities. Harnessing traditional cultural practices and knowledge can help build social resilience and guide us in making sustainable lifestyle choices.”
“While we look to the future, the UAE as a country has often drawn on the past and made the most of its traditional sustainable practices. Discussions on the role of culture in mitigating the risks of climate change have made significant progress, which we will present at the upcoming COP28 Continue to build momentum to scale up culture-based climate action. UAE youth will play a major role in these discussions as key changemakers, and the world will see how the next generation takes responsibility for their future,” he added.
Government Cooperation Program
Green Retreat has seven thematic committees that discuss key topics across the sustainability value chain. These include water resource management and conservation; biodiversity and blue carbon ecosystem protection; private sector engagement and industrial transformation; waste management and circular economy; sustainable transport; renewable energy and energy efficiency; sustainable agriculture and food security.
The committees consisted of experts from federal and local government entities, as well as the private sector, who discussed a variety of ideas and challenges related to each topic. They present solutions in the form of initiatives and projects implemented by individual entities or through coordinated efforts.
Each committee came up with 8 to 10 project and initiative ideas in support of their respective theme. The most viable and impactful ideas were selected as part of an initial plan for national climate activities by January 2024. Representatives from the government media office also discussed ideas that could be added to the national climate action agenda.
Several media working groups were formed to help government entities provide a unified narrative for the COP28 conference and raise awareness in the UAE of the country’s major events this year. It was agreed to hold regular follow-up meetings to ensure progress in the implementation of the plan. — trade arab news agency
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