Abu Dhabi: A UAE delegation of 100 public and private sector members is attending this year’s global climate change conference now under way in Marrakech, Morrocco, to help begin implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement pledge to combat global warming.
Led by Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, the UAE delegates will be engaged in all levels of discussions to find practical solutions at the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP 22) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).
The conference opened on Monday and runs until November 18.
Parties are working in Marrakech to limit further global warming temperature increases to within 1.5 degrees Celsius in the century ahead as agreed in Paris talks attended by 195 countries.
“The UAE is a big believer in engaging civil society and businesses to find durable and meaningful solutions to climate change. We greatly look forward to sharing our successful domestic experiences in Marrakech,” said Al Zeyoudi in a statement on Monday. “This year, parties to the UNFCC are meeting in Marrakech to continue working on enabling the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which started in the intercessional meetings in June 2016 in Bonn. Owing to the unprecedented speed at which the agreement was ratified by a large number of countries, it came into effect on November 4.” The UAE delegation brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the talks to help move the climate change process forward.
“The UAE is well-positioned to participate in related decision making — ranging from review processes for countries’ climate action and capacity building, to technology development and transfer, and also financing,” Al Zeyoudi said.
With more than 100 representatives from government, business, academia, and 30 students showcasing the country’s ambitious climate actions, the UAE joins more than 190 nations to discuss practical solutions to climate change issues and begin preparations to implement the Paris Agreement.
The UAE delegation to COP22 includes high-level officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, General Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Dubai Carbon, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, Masdar - Abu Dhabi’s initiative for renewable energy, and Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
The UAE is playing its part in tackling climate change, with effective policies and initiatives that aim to diversify the economy into new, knowledge-based industries. It has led the region in deploying clean energy, with pioneering projects and policies in renewable and nuclear energy, energy and water efficiency, and carbon sequestration, the ministry said on Monday.
The UAE was also the first in the region to set a clean renewable energy target of 27 per cent by 2021.
In addition, it has also deployed energy-saving infrastructure, from strict green building codes to world-class light rail and metro systems.
The country has long invested in human capital for future industries and world-class innovation centres, such as the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. Over the next five years, it will double its investment in clean energy research and development. The UAE is also supporting international action, through renewable energy aid and investments in a number of international commercial renewable energy projects. In addition, the country is the proud host of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment also organised and delivered a training workshop in collaboration with the Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA) on UN climate change negotiations and COP 22. The workshop aimed to provide an induction into the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and drew the participation of the UAE delegates and stakeholders, including student delegates from the UAE universities that are attending the conference.
