Emirates Sees Progressive Climate Action as Enabler of Stability

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) sees climate action as the vital enabler of stability and economic prosperity. Climate action will aim to promote climate progress through the UN’s Conference of the Parties (COP) process and all other relevant forums in the run-up to hosting COP 28 in 2023.

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy for Climate, said during the Munich Security Conference that “while climate change remains a huge global challenge, the world is actually in a much better position after COP 26 than it was just a few months ago, as 90 percent of the global economy is now committed to net zero. That commitment sends a massive market signal, and it is clear that the time to invest in low carbon solutions is right now. This is, in fact, a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity to create new jobs, new industries, and whole new sectors.” 

He continued, “as such, the COP process has a critical role in enabling an accelerated pathway to low carbon economic development. The key to success is inclusivity, bringing together the public and private sectors, scientists and civil society, developed and developing economies. I believe COP27 in Egypt can build on the successes of COP 26, and we intend, as hosts of COP 28, to build on that momentum by ensuring it as inclusive as possible and as solutions-oriented as possible.”  

On another note, he said that the impacts of climate change could worsen conflicts if left unaddressed.   

“The fact is, as the trend toward extreme weather patterns continues, climate impacts are increasingly affecting a range of issues from food security to water security and sowing the seeds of future conflicts,” he acknowledged.  

Climate concerns are becoming security concerns, and we need to upgrade the response accordingly.” 

He further noted that there needs to be greater emphasis placed on climate resilience and adaptation. 

The country repeatedly stresses that it supports robust climate finance and that the world should make good on its pledge of $100 billion in annual climate finance to developing nations.  

“These countries have contributed the least to climate change, yet they face the largest costs of inaction. A just transition must ensure that the right level of finance flows to countries that need it most. The result will be greater peace, stability, and prosperity not just for those countries, but throughout the world,” the official highlighted.