UAE Reaffirms Commitment To Climate And Environmental Goals Via Global Cooperation

Representing President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, the Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, delivered a compelling speech at the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) held at the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The session was pivotal in discussing the role of multilateralism in addressing the triple planetary crisis: climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

During her address, Dr. Al Dahak underscored the UAE's dedication to meeting its environmental and climate commitments through global cooperation. She highlighted the significant outcomes of COP28 in Dubai, which took place in late 2023. The conference was lauded for its comprehensive approach and the landmark 'UAE Consensus', which aims at halting the rise in global temperatures and ensuring equitable distribution of energy resources.

The Minister pointed out the unprecedented focus on food as a climate action priority during COP28, a first in the history of these conferences. This emphasis led to the endorsement of the "COP28 UAE Declaration on Resilient Food Systems, Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action" by 159 countries. Dr. Al Dahak also celebrated the increased participation in UAE-launched initiatives like the "Mangrove Alliance for Climate" and the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate).

Furthermore, Dr. Al Dahak introduced the "Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative", a project aimed at combating global water scarcity. She expressed pride in contributing to an initiative that fosters collaboration among international partners and stakeholders, propels technological innovation, and encourages investments to tackle this pressing challenge.

Reiterating the UAE's commitment to leveraging its environmental achievements for global climate action, Dr. Al Dahak emphasized cooperation as a cornerstone for success. She also expressed gratitude towards the Asian and Pacific Group for backing Oman's presidency candidacy for the United Nations General Assembly's seventh session and congratulated Oman on this achievement.

The United Nations Environment Assembly, as a leading decision-making body on environmental issues, strives to restore balance between human societies and nature while improving conditions for marginalized and vulnerable populations worldwide.

Highlighting a significant development during COP28's opening in Dubai last November, Dr. Al Dahak mentioned an agreement on the Loss and Damage Fund designed to support countries severely impacted by climate change. UNEA-6 dedicated discussions to this milestone and other successes, focusing on how governments can collectively fulfill ratified multilateral agreements with an emphasis on securing necessary financing.

With inputs from WAM