UAE showcases global leadership on climate action at Marrakech

Dubai / Emirates Business

World leaders and official government delegations attending the recently concluded 22nd session of the Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Marrakech renewed their commitment to translating the outcomes of the Paris Climate Agreement into concrete steps and successful projects towards reducing the impact of global warming and achieving sustainable development.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) led the UAE’s engagement to the conference, highlighting the country’s global efforts to address climate change and promote responsible management of natural resources across vital sectors. The UAE delegation to COP22 was the largest ever by the country to a UN climate conference.
During a series of high-level meetings and side events organized by MoCCAE and several public and private sector entities and academia, the UAE highlighted its success in tackling climate change challenges, stressing the need to intensify international efforts in shaping a low-carbon economy.
The UAE delegation to COP22 was led by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and included His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Special Adviser to the UAE President, His Excellency Suhail Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy, His Excellency Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, His Excellency Mohammed bin Ahmad Al Bawardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), and His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
The UAE’s National Statement delivered at COP22 on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, focused on the country’s instrumental role in developing innovative solutions to sustainability and working collaboratively with world leaders to advance climate action. The UAE also reiterated its belief that clear policy action as well as public-private partnerships are needed to spur research and development of new technologies and accelerate the deployment of clean energy worldwide.
The UAE’s participation in COP22 reaffirms its commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation, set by the UAE’s founding father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. His legacy and vision guides the UAE’s ambitious agenda to lead and prepare for a prosperous 21st century future.
“We’re extremely proud to attend the COP22 Marrakesh Climate Change Conference. The large-scale participation of the UAE in COP22 articulates our leadership’s support for environment causes and global efforts to find positive solutions to the pressing challenges in this domain. We thank the Moroccan COP22 Presidency and hosting of this year’s conference that helped the world move further toward implementing the Paris Agreement and achieving a sustainable future,” said His Excellency Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
His Excellency Al Zeyoudi also noted that public-private partnerships are key to the climate finance approach of the UAE that has already pledged over US$750 million in untied grants and soft loans for clean energy investment and capacity building.
During a series of high-level meetings and side events organized by partners including the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), DEWA, and Masdar, the UAE discussed how implementing these ideas can help to fast-track progress in climate change mitigation and ensure the implementation of adaptation methods to meet economic diversification objectives, such as renewable energy innovation across sectors and carbon capture storage technologies. The UAE is also supporting other developing countries with renewable
energy deployment to meet both
climate change and socio-economic
development objectives.
In addition to highlighting its successes in climate action at COP22, the UAE also announced its membership to the newly established World Green Economy Organization (WEGO), which will be based in Dubai and serve as a global green economy think-tank.

Other partnerships the UAE has entered into at COP22 include Research for Climate Action (RCA), a global network connecting world-class research and analysis efforts with key climate change decision-makers, and the International Partnership for Blue Carbon (IPBC), an alliance of governments, non-profit organizations and research institutions that aim to protect and restore coastal blue carbon ecosystems.

“The UAE is at the forefront of addressing climate change to reduce emissions and create new economic and social opportunities,” His Excellency Al Zeyoudi said. “We are continuing to engage with business and government leaders, academia and the youth to ramp up action now.”

Some 30 university students attended COP22 as part of the official UAE delegation, participating in negotiation sessions and side events, including the COP22 Youth Circle on climate action.

The UAE also held bilateral meetings to discuss potential partnership opportunities with several high-level officials, including His Excellency Salaheddine Mezouar, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP22 President, His Excellency Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of Environment and Water, Singapore, His Excellency Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Environment and Energy of the Maldives, Her Excellency Paula Bennett, Minister for Climate Change Issues in New Zealand, His Excellency Zahid Hamid, Minister for Climate Change, Pakistan, His Excellency Hassan Abdal-Gadir Hilal, Minister of Environment Natural Resources, Sudan, Her Excellency Patricia Espinosa, Executive-Secretary, UNFCCC, Dr Jose Da Silva, Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization, Dr Bandar Hajjar, President, Islamic Development Bank, and Dr Frank Rijsberman, Director General of GGGI.

The UAE Delegation was the largest to ever participate in the UN climate conference. The delegation included senior officials from government and private sectors as well as academia, including the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Ministry of Health & Prevention, Emirates Youth Council, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the United Arab Emirates Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science, the General Authority for Civil Aviation, and Abu Dhabi National Oil company (ADNOC). Delegates from Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy initiative, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Majid Al Futtaim Group, New York University Abu Dhabi, the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, Zayed Future Energy Prize, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, Office of Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan Al Nahyan, Dubai Land Department, Dubai South, and Al Nowais Investments also participated in the event.