UAE Pavilion At COP29 Highlights Women's Empowerment In Climate Action Initiatives

The UAE's agenda for Day Ten at COP29 focused on the built environment, gender issues, humanitarian efforts, and the impact on lives and livelihoods. The initial session was led by Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion at COP28, who highlighted the connection between gender and climate. She stated, "climate impact is not gender neutral; we need to ensure we empower women on the frontlines of climate change, making sure they are co-designing the solutions required to combat climate change."

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and advocate for women's rights, emphasised that involving women in climate policy accelerates progress. She remarked, "Gender responsive climate policy will make things move faster – women at grassroots level are accelerating the transition and making a difference." Leaders from various sectors discussed enhancing gender equality and access to climate finance as crucial for a resilient future economy.

The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), alongside Spotnik Technologies, introduced the UAE 3D Digital Twin project aimed at improving urban livability and sustainability. Naseibah Abdulla Almarzooqi from MoEI described it as "a single platform to inform urban decision-making while centralising information in one place." Aditya Ramakrishnan from Spotnik explained that this digital twin covers all UAE infrastructure using AI to assess sustainability impacts.

Al Futtaim led a session on redefining mobility within urban sprawl, followed by discussions on sustainable city development. Pooja Ganatra from Buro Happold described the circular economy as "a transformative approach that aims to decouple economic growth from the consumption of finite resources – a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated." Masdar’s Master Plan was noted for recycling over 9 million plastics with added social value.

Sheikha Dr. Moza bint Tahnoun Al Nahyan of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed integrating climate action with foreign policy in conflict-affected areas. The discussion highlighted that humanitarian responses have comprised 35 percent of UAE development aid over ten years. Dragana Kojic from ICRC praised COP28's declaration for recognising climate action's importance in conflict settings.

The day concluded with Culture for Climate: Linking National and International Climate Policy by the UAE Ministry of Culture. This session explored cultural dimensions in enhancing climate action. Additionally, MoEI showcased progress in building future schools across the UAE through infrastructure initiatives.

Sustainable Financing Initiatives

In collaboration with First Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, and Dubai Islamic Bank, MoEI launched the National Green Home Loans Program. This initiative promotes sustainable construction through affordable financing options and eco-friendly building practices.

The discussions throughout Day Ten underscored how integrating gender equality, innovative urban planning, conflict-sensitive policies, cultural considerations, and sustainable financing can collectively enhance global climate resilience efforts.

With inputs from WAM