COP28 Presidency Mobilises Global Leaders At UN General Assembly To Advance UAE Consensus And Sustainable Growth

This week, the COP28 Presidency took part in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week. The aim was to rally global leaders around the UAE Consensus framework to keep the 1.5°C climate goal achievable. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President, urged nations to submit "transformational" Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of schedule.

Throughout the week, the COP28 Presidency highlighted economic opportunities from three major trends: rapid energy system changes, AI growth, and the Global South's rise. Dr. Al Jaber announced that the UAE will submit its third NDC before COP29 in Azerbaijan this November. He encouraged all parties to be "early movers" with their NDCs by or before this event.

Dr. Al Jaber spoke at the Global Renewables Summit about tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, a key outcome of the UAE Consensus agreed at COP28 in Dubai. He stressed that tripling renewable capacity is vital for keeping 1.5°C within reach and advancing sustainable prosperity globally.

The UAE’s upcoming NDC will address all greenhouse gases across every sector, including energy, industry, transportation, and waste. It will leverage technologies like AI for decarbonisation and resilience enhancement in food, health, and early warning systems.

At a roundtable hosted by ALTÉRRA, Dr. Al Jaber updated on progress made on $6.5 billion commitments announced at COP28 with partners like BlackRock and TPG. These investments are aiding companies with over 40GW of clean energy projects worldwide.

Shamma Al Mazrui participated in youth-focused events discussing the development of the COP Presidency Youth Climate Champion role since its institutionalisation under the UAE Consensus. She emphasised continuing youth empowerment as we approach COP29.

Collaborations and Financial Mobilisation

Razan Al Mubarak engaged in events highlighting the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action endorsed by 73 countries. She stressed integrating nature into climate strategies and increasing finance for Indigenous-led organisations.

The UN General Assembly serves as a crucial step toward COP29. The COP28 Presidency remains committed to mobilising international action through initiatives like the COP Presidencies Troika collaboration between UAE, Azerbaijan, and Brazil.

The UAE signed an agreement with Ghana identifying investment priorities in climate adaptation and nature-based solutions during UNGA sidelines discussions.

With inputs from WAM