WHAT IS THE COP?

A critical moment in global transformative climate action

 

Conferences of the Parties (COPs) are how the world organizes its collective response to the global challenge of climate change. World leaders gathered at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, to seal the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Convention launched annual meetings of the COP, to act to avoid the impacts of climate change. The 21st session of the COP (COP21) in 2015 led to the landmark Paris Agreement, where countries pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions this century and limit global average warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. COP28 is a milestone moment, as nations for the first time formally review progress since the Paris Agreement, under a Global Stocktake. A climate emergency is here, but so is hope.

DR SULTAN AL JABER,

COP28 PRESIDENT,

OPENS “UNPRECEDENTED” COP

COP28 President is “laser focused” on keeping within reach a globally agreed warming limit of 1.5C, urging agreement on finance, fossil fuels and adaptation.

 

• COP28 takes place at a pivotal moment in a critical decade for climate action. The world is at a crossroads, where action has fallen short, since Paris.

• Countries must deliver a course correction, as they review action to date for the first time, under a Global Stocktake.

• The conference must take steps to make climate finance available, accessible and affordable, so that the Global South does not have to choose between development and climate action.

• Decisions are already within reach, to drive an energy system revolution by 2030, including to triple renewable energy capacity, and see near-zero methane emissions from oil and gas.

• There is no time to waste, no issue can be left off the table. Countries have no choice but to take “unprecedented” action.

• COP28 is about improving lives, about clean air and water, healthy food, for all people, for nature, for a safe and secure future.

• As a young nation, the UAE has conviction and determination. It already has great skills in fostering partnership and collaboration, ingredients also for a successful COP28.

• The moment has come to take a new road, to make the difference for future generations, to unite, act, and deliver, in the UAE.


PRESIDENCY SPEECHES

11th Dec

11th Dec

11th Dec

8th Dec

9th Dec

4th Dec

4th Dec

3rd Dec

COP28 LEADERSHIP

Sultan

DR. SULTAN AHMED AL JABER,
PRESIDENT FOR COP28 UAE

Dr. Al Jaber is the first CEO to ever serve as COP President and brings with him sound business acumen, a deep understanding of economics and leverages his decades-long experience in the energy sector, encompassing both renewable and traditional energies. During his double tenure as Special Envoy for Climate Change (2010- 2016, 2020-present), Dr. Al Jaber has played a seminal role in shaping the country’s clean energy path, including as founding CEO and currently the Chairman of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s pioneering renewable energy initiative, that has since become a leading global clean energy player. Dr. Al Jaber has also been an outcomes-focused participant at over 11 COPs, including the historic Paris COP21 in 2015. Upon joining Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as its CEO, Dr. Al Jaber has spearheaded a $15 billion decarbonization strategy and new low-carbon solutions business.

Learn more about Dr. Sultan Al Jaber’s initiatives and priorities on his official website.


shamma

H.E. SHAMMA AL MAZRUI,
UAE, YOUTH CLIMATE CHAMPION

The Youth Climate Champion role is designed to amplify the work of youth-led and youth-focused organizations within the COP process. H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development, will be the first-ever Youth Climate Champion with a Ministerial role. She will be responsible for engaging with youth globally in the lead-up to, and during, COP28 UAE. This will include working with local and global stakeholders to provide capacity-building opportunities for youth, as well as mechanisms to fund youth innovations in the field. H.E. Al Mazrui is also the Vice Chair of the Arab Youth Center, the Secretary General of the Education and Human Resources Council, Chairperson for Special Olympics UAE, and President of the National Center for Education Quality.
razan

H.E. RAZAN AL MUBARAK,
UN CLIMATE CHANGE HIGH-LEVEL CHAMPION

As UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, H.E. Razan Al Mubarak will mobilize the private sector and civil society, along with driving efforts to address the climate and nature crises together. The role of the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion is focused on engaging state and non-state actors, including cities and sub-regional governments, indigenous peoples, civil society, and private sector partners. Al Mubarak will draw upon her experience as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Managing Director of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Managing Director of Emirates Nature-WWF to ensure progress on biodiversity, conservation, and nature-based solutions.

H.E. DR. AMNA BINT ABDULLAH AL DAHAK,
MINISTER OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT

As Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, HE Dr. Al Dahak will oversee and lead environmental initiatives in partnership with other government partners, the private sector, startups in relevant sectors, and all segments of the community, in an effort to achieve the UAE’s ambitious Net Zero 2050 Strategy, protect and promote the country’s unique natural environment, accelerate climate action, grow the agriculture and fishing sectors, develop agricultural technologies, safeguard land ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and ensure national food security.

BLUE ZONE

The Blue Zone is a UNFCCC-managed site, open to accredited parties and observer delegates. This space houses the formal negotiations across the two-week conference, as well as the World Climate Action Summit, the country pavilions, presidency events, and hundreds of side events. These include panel discussions, round tables and cultural events.

GREEN ZONE

The Green Zone is free-of-charge, and open to everyone. This space is managed and delivered by the COP28 Presidency and is where we bring together diverse groups delivering climate action and accelerating solutions. The Green Zone offers a platform for non-accredited delegates, including youth groups, civil society, NGOs, the private sector, and indigenous groups, to promote voices for climate change conversations and awareness.

THE UAE’S PROVEN
TRACK RECORD ON
CLIMATE ACTION

As the first country in the region to ratify the Paris Agreement, as well as to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions, and announce a 2050 net zero strategy, the UAE is committed to raising ambition and leading by example.

 

Our 2015 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commits the UAE to cut absolute national greenhouse gas emissions by 19% by 2030. We will renew nature by planting 100 million mangroves. And we will triple our share of renewable power this decade, while all clean energy will reach 30% of capacity by 2030. National Net Zero by 2050 Pathway charts new steps to save energy and water, in buildings and agriculture, and meet new goals for recycling and electric vehicles.

 

UAE’s action does not stop at its borders. In September, we pledged $4.5 billion towards a clean energy transition across Africa.

COP28 (WCAS) Presidency Summary

THE UAE CONSENSUS