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NAIROBI / ABU DHABI
The COP28 UAE Presidency team attended the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS), taking part in speaking engagements, meetings with African national leaders and leaders from business, policy and civil society and community visits, in a show of support and commitment to the continent as a major player in a better climate future.
Activity conducted by the UAE delegation reflected the COP28 4-Point Plan of Action – to fast track a just, orderly and equitable energy transition, fix climate finance, focus on people, lives and livelihoods, and underscore all action with full inclusivity. It also took place just ahead of the release of technical data from the Global Stocktake; expected to show a severe divergence from the Paris Agreement and keeping 1.5°C within reach by 2030.
2023 marks the first year for ACS. Co-hosted by the Republic of Kenya and the African Union Commission, it convened national leaders from across Africa and the world and leading figures from business, policy and civil society to design and catalyse solutions to address climate change in Africa and the world.
It ultimately led to leaders from across the continent unanimously adopting the ‘Nairobi Declaration’, which will now provide the basis of Africa’s negotiating position at November’s COP28 summit.
Its contents align with many of the ambitions of the COP28 Presidency’s 4-Point Plan of Action, including a call on the global community to fulfil its obligations on matters such as accelerating efforts to reduce emissions to align with the Paris Agreement goals and honouring the commitment to $100 billion in annual climate finance. It also commits African leaders to develop and implement policies, regulations and incentives to attract investment in green growth and an inclusive economy.
The COP28 Presidency welcomed the Nairobi Declaration, which recognised it as a “clear statement of Africa’s determination and climate leadership” and committed to continue working with African leaders – and others from the Global South – to build on the achievements of Nairobi and deliver transformative results at the COP28.
The full COP28 UAE Presidency leadership team consists of Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and President-Designate for COP28; Shamma Al Mazrui, Youth Climate Champion; Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion; Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, Director-General of COP28; and Adnan Amin, CEO of COP28.
COP28 President Designate Dr Al Jaber initiated the team’s presence at ACS in a speech during the high-level opening of the Summit, in which he detailed the COP28 UAE Presidency’s vision for a successful transition to a better climate future.
At the forefront of the speech was his announcement of a new clean energy investment initiative from the UAE in partnership with Africa 50 to deploy $4.5 billion in blended public and private finance to clean energy projects across Africa.