Over 150 senior officials and ministers participated in the United for Climate Green Retreat, where the UAE outlined its important climate change objectives in preparation for the Cop28 summit in Dubai later this year.
This event brought together both public and private sector representatives at Expo City Dubai, the same location where the global conference will take place from November 30 to December 12.
Key figures attending the event included H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan, president and chief executive of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators, H.E. Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy, H.H. Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, H.E. Ahmad Al Falasi, Minister of Education and H.E. Salem Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Youth.
The event brought together high-level representatives from federal and local government, leading private sector companies and prominent business leaders with the shared mission of furthering plans to safeguard the planet.
Al Mheiri said the event, organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, served as an opportunity to develop the UAE’s climate change strategies, which include hitting net-zero emissions by 2050 and accelerating the transition to renewable energies.
The gathering united influential officials from both federal and local governments, influential private sector corporations, and notable business leaders, all with a common goal of advancing efforts to protect the environment. Al Mheiri explained that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment organized the event to establish the UAE’s climate change initiatives, which involve achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and expediting the shift to sustainable energy sources.
“The Green Retreat serves as an invaluable opportunity for participants to learn about the UAE’s outstanding climate action record and contribute their ambitious ideas to drive tangible progress in national efforts towards sustainable economic growth,” said Al Mheiri.
“We aim to develop a comprehensive climate action plan through the participation of all government and private institutions, which will create significant opportunities for economic growth and diversification, generate employment for youth, foster inclusive and cohesive communities, harness the potential of clean energy, safeguard natural habitats and preserve the environment.”
Al Mheiri emphasized the seriousness of the global challenge, which involves issues such as increasing food waste, carbon emissions, biodiversity depletion, and the imminent threat of climate change to human beings. These topics were all discussed during the gathering.
Bin Touq stated that immediate and collaborative measures are necessary to promote environmentally-friendly initiatives and safeguard the planet, according The National. “Co-ordinating all government efforts in the country in preparation for hosting Cop28 is a national priority, given the importance of this vital issue and its direct impact on the comprehensive development process at both state and global levels,” he added.
“This is especially true in light of the unprecedented challenges facing the world today due to climate change, which will continue to make this issue a top priority on the global dialogue agenda in the coming years.”
Al Mazrouei said it was vital for the UAE to be united in its efforts to ensure the success of Cop28. “With Cop28 approaching fast, all stakeholders should ensure their efforts are aligned to facilitate an adequate representation of the UAE and the success of the highly anticipated event,” he added.
“Since the country’s establishment by the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s environmental stewardship has been nothing short of inspirational, rendering it a leader of climate action, sustainability and environmental protection.”
The Green Retreat comprised of seven councils that tackled crucial subjects such as sustainable agriculture and food security, water resource management, biodiversity, private sector involvement, and industry transformation. These councils involved specialists from government entities at both the federal and local levels, as well as private sector representatives, who brainstormed and deliberated on ideas and issues before proposing potential solutions.
As the President-designate for Cop28, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber expressed concern about the urgent need for radical action. He has urged for a “system-wide transformation” to steer the world towards achieving its climate change goals. At a climate conference in Copenhagen last month, H.E. Dr. Al Jaber highlighted the significant challenges that lie ahead as the international community strives to substantially reduce emission levels and curb global temperature increases.
However, Dr. Al Jaber, who is also the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, remains optimistic about the progress that can be made en route to Cop28 in Dubai. He described the event as the initial “global stocktake” since the Paris Agreement in 2015, which proposed limiting global temperature rises to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Dr. Al Jaber emphasized that to preserve the 1.5°C goal, the world needs to cut emissions by 43% over the next seven years.
