Shorouk Awad (Dubai)
Hoping to stand the temperature of the planet at 1.5 degrees Celsius, decision-makers and experts from 190 countries around the world will gather in Glasgow, UK next week at the podium of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate (COP 26) to report on what has been accomplished since Launching the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, establishing a work process for the next decade until 2030, and raising the ceiling of ambition to enhance work efforts to confront the challenge of climate change, reduce its causes, and enhance capabilities to adapt to its repercussions.
The Paris Climate Agreement – signed by 197 countries so far – called for a commitment to reduce global temperatures to “well below” two degrees Celsius, and to strive to limit global warming, so that it does not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius, to ensure the protection of the planet The catastrophic consequences of climate change.
The “COP 26” meetings follow the issuance of a set of global reports that warn of catastrophic risks of climate change at present and in the future, the most important of which is the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – of the United Nations – which stressed the need for rapid action to curb global warming and global warming. He explained that the surface temperature of the Earth recorded a rise of 1.09 degrees Celsius during the ten years between 2011-2020, compared to what it was between 1850-1900, and that the past five years were the hottest ever since 1850, and that the last rate of surface level rise The sea has nearly tripled compared to the period between 1901-1971, and the report pointed out that the human influence is behind 90% of climate change, its phenomena and its repercussions, the most important of which is the retreat of glaciers since the 1990s and the melting of sea ice in the Arctic.
This negative state of expectations imposes a great responsibility on the decision-makers who will meet in Glasgow as part of the “COP 26” activities, and imposes the need to raise the ceiling of climate action ambition to ensure the protection of life on the planet.
In a gesture to raise the ambition of climate action, the UAE announced, as part of the activities of the first week of “Expo Dubai 2020,” the UAE’s strategic initiative to strive to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 – the first country in the Middle East to announce this type of initiative – as a road map for an integrated approach to Work to achieve sustainable economic development that integrates action for the climate and ensures commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement, and represents a regional and global catalyst and catalyst for raising the ambition of climate action.
Climate Neutrality
Her Excellency Maryam bint Mohammed Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, told Al-Ittihad: “The COP 26 meetings will represent one of the focal points in the global climate action process, as it will focus on the achievements of reducing the causes of climate change in accordance with the goals of the Paris Agreement, and the directions and strategies of work in the coming years. Until 2030, and motivating all countries of the world to raise the ceiling of their climate ambitions to ensure the strengthening of the work process to protect our planet and ensure the continuity of life on it.”
She pointed out that the announcement of the UAE’s strategic initiative to strive to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 reflects the forward-looking and wise vision of our wise leadership, and represents an extension of the legacy of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, based on protecting the environment and preserving its natural resources and diversity. and to ensure their sustainability, and to devote the UAE’s active role in finding solutions to global challenges.
Her Excellency added: “The initiative represents an effective opportunity to achieve sustainable development at the level of all sectors, as it will contribute, by integrating the goal of climate action, to promoting local economic diversification, creating more sustainable growth and business opportunities, and enhancing the capabilities and directions of the local energy transformation.”
Her Excellency explained that “the initiative focuses on strengthening the strategic partnership between the public and private sectors, and the initiative aligns with the fifty principles of creating the best economy in the world, and is based on the country’s three-decade march in climate action, and enhances its pioneering role towards climate neutrality, being the first country in the region to launch An initiative targeting climate neutrality, as it was the first country in the region to ratify the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.”
Her Excellency indicated that the pursuit of climate neutrality represents a new model for sustainable economic growth that promotes research and development activities, innovation and clean technology applications, and will act as a catalyst for investment and job creation.
Her Excellency emphasized that the initiative contributes to increasing industrial competitiveness and enhancing the position of the UAE as a global economic center that attracts investments. The initiative also contributes to developing human capital expertise in future fields and attracting distinguished human competencies.
She pointed out that the UAE, through its initiative, stimulates global climate action and encourages more countries to raise the ceiling of their ambitions regarding climate action.
3 decades of climate action
The UAE has a path of action for the environment that accompanied its founding in the early seventies of the last century, in addition to 3 decades of climate action that began with its signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Destroy the Ozone Layer in 1989.
In the early nineties, it was internationally agreed to launch the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate to represent the first global move to confront this important challenge, and in 1995 the UAE joined the agreement to participate in the international movement for climate action.
With the development of discussions and legal commitments to the climate action movement, and after the launch and adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, which binds developed countries with goals to reduce emissions, the UAE ratified the protocol in 2005 as the first major oil-producing country in the world.
Paris Agreement
With the updating and development of climate action goals to focus more on addressing the problem of global warming, in addition to further reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the launch of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, the UAE hastened to join the agreement and sign its provisions to be the first in the region.
Specific contributions
As part of its commitments – voluntary – to work for the climate, the UAE raised the ceiling of its ambition to meet this challenge in its second report on the Nationally Determined Contributions, which it submitted to the General Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate last December, which includes raising the ceiling of the goal of reducing emissions by 70 million tons by the year 2030, achieving a reduction in the country’s total emissions intensity by 37.5% by 2030 compared to 2016 rates.
Increasing the share of domestic clean energy to reach a production capacity of 14 gigawatts by 2030, compared to 100 megawatts in 2015.
Continuing to implement an integrated system of measures aimed at reducing the level of emissions in the main economic sectors (energy, transport, industry, services, agriculture, and waste).
Continuing efforts to preserve coastal ecosystems and the Blue Carbon Project by planting millions of trees, including mangroves, of which 30 million seedlings are planned to be planted by 2030.
future directions
This wide system of work efforts for the environment and climate, was reinforced by the wise leadership’s adoption and adoption of a set of directions and policies that serve to achieve sustainability and create a better future for current and future generations, including the adoption of the transition towards a green economy, and the adoption and launch of the public environmental policy in the UAE and the Emirates policy for circular economy Which were prepared by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in cooperation with its strategic partners from government and private sector entities and institutions.
A draft federal law on climate change has also been prepared, which will represent the federal framework and umbrella regulating standards and mechanisms for action for climate at the state level.
Hosting «COP 28»
The UAE submitted a request to host the session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate “COP 28” in an effort to stimulate and accelerate global action to confront the challenges of climate change and to preserve the planet and ensure the continuity of life on it. It is based on transforming all challenges into growth opportunities, and to ensure the continuity of the sustainable economic growth process in light of a set of standards that preserve the environment and integrate climate action in the future strategies of all sectors.
special envoy
After the Cabinet approved the appointment of a special envoy for the UAE for climate change, and in line with the country’s commitment to push forward efforts to reduce the repercussions of climate change and achieve sustainable development, a preparatory team was assigned to the UAE’s participation in the next session of COP26, where it held several meetings, including A meeting that took place last February, and its interlocutor concluded a discussion of the country’s preparations to participate in the main and side “COP26” activities, and the efforts to work for the climate that will be presented and discussed.
fairness
The team also participated in the virtual meetings of the climate negotiations for the states parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate, which were launched last June. Reducing carbon emissions, energy transition, and the importance of providing the necessary support for developing countries to meet their commitments, in addition to the global carbon market pricing mechanisms.
Climate Action Leadership
As big as COP28 is and what the UAE intends to launch and motivate during it, it will represent a step within an integrated strategy of an oil-producing country that has voluntarily decided to commit and strongly contribute to protecting human life and ensuring its continuity, so it has led the region in climate action. This month witnessed an important announcement confirming the extent of the UAE’s voluntary commitment to protecting our environment and our planet and reducing all causes that threaten its sustainability, foremost of which is emissions that stand as a major cause of climate change, which is represented in the UAE’s strategic initiative to strive to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Promote the interests of the UAE
The UAE team, led by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, focused on promoting the country’s interests in global climate action efforts, highlighting its achievements in working to meet the challenge of climate change, reducing its emissions, adapting to its repercussions at the local and global levels, and fulfilling its voluntary obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate. The Paris Climate Agreement, its future directions and strategies, and its efforts to deploy and use renewable energy solutions and reduce voluntary carbon emissions locally and globally.
humanity’s victory
All hopes are pinned on the discussions of “COP26” for the victory of humanity in a clean climate and a clean environment, but this requires a great effort from the major countries, by focusing on investing in renewable and clean energy over the next decade, as recommended by the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – of the United Nations, and by adopting environmentally friendly public policies and legislation, and here it is necessary to note the great role played by the UAE, as a strong indication of its involvement in serious climate action for many years, and its support for efforts to spread and use renewable energy solutions globally and the best evidence of that partnership Which brought together the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, and the Masdar Company, during which several projects were implemented in the island countries of the Caribbean Sea and the island countries of the Pacific Ocean, with a financing value of $450 million.
Through investment and investment partnerships, the UAE company “Masdar” has become one of the most important international players in the field of renewable energy projects, and it currently manages a portfolio of renewable energy projects with a production capacity of 11 gigawatts in more than 30 countries around the world.
Support for developing countries
The team stressed the need to accelerate the pace of movement and global commitment to work for the climate, and to support the efforts of developing countries to contribute to reducing the causes of climate change and enhancing the capabilities of adaptation to its repercussions to ensure a better future for current and future generations. The UAE will host the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate “COP 28” in 2023, which was announced by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation last May.
Transfer of expertise and experience
The UAE, through its request to host COP28, is working to transfer the expertise and experience of its 30-year journey to the international community as a whole to stimulate its work to ensure the continuity of life on the planet and enhance its ability to create a better future for current and future generations.
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