UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the opening session of the COP29 World Leaders Climate Action Summit, reaffirming the UAE’s dedication to enhancing climate action and fostering a climate-resilient economy for the future.
During his remarks at the summit, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed emphasized the UAE’s longstanding tradition of environmental stewardship and its commitment to sustainable development principles.
He noted that this commitment was instrumental in the UAE’s hosting of COP28 last year, where the nation advocated for international collaboration to effectively address the first Global Stocktake, which evaluated progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement.
His Highness stressed that ongoing constructive global cooperation on climate issues can usher in a new era of sustainable economic and social development, benefiting all nations. He framed climate action as an opportunity for progress rather than a burden, highlighting that the historic UAE Consensus reached at COP28 underscored a collective global commitment to a systematic, responsible, equitable, and rational transition in the energy sector.
On Monday, the UAE President arrived at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku on a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, during which he will participate in the COP29 climate conference.
His Highness is accompanied by an official delegation that includes H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, advisor for Special Affairs at the Presidential Court; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, UAE minister of Investment; Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment; Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State; Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, chairman of the President’s Office for Strategic Affairs at the Presidential Court; Faisal Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Bannai, adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology, and Mohammed Murad Al Balushi, UAE ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Commitment to inclusivity and transparency
Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and president of COP29, affirmed his collaboration with the COP28 Presidency to enhance the implementation of the historic UAE Consensus. Babayev expressed gratitude to the COP28 Presidency, led by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, for their ongoing partnership. He mentioned that it was an honor to take the gavel from Dr. Al Jaber as they worked together to advance the UAE Consensus.
As COP29 President, Babayev emphasized the conference’s commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration among Parties. He highlighted this moment as a crucial opportunity to forge a path towards a sustainable future. Babayev also underscored the necessity of establishing an ambitious climate finance target that is equitable and meets the needs of least developed countries, small island states, and other developing nations.
Read more: COP29 begins in Baku with active, effective participation from UAE
Engagement and cooperation in negotiations
Describing the negotiation process at COP29 as challenging, the Azerbaijani Minister called upon all parties to engage, collaborate, and cooperate to empower communities impacted by climate change. He stressed the importance of teamwork in creating a sustainable legacy for future generations. Babayev expressed a strong determination to prepare a comprehensive package across all sectors, advocate for a significant global outcome, mobilize climate finance, and work collectively toward viable solutions.
On the inaugural day of COP29 in Azerbaijan, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber delivered his handover address as COP28 President, reflecting on a landmark tenure marked by substantial advancements in the climate agenda. He urged all parties to unite, act, and deliver during the upcoming two weeks in Baku. Dr. Al Jaber noted that by realizing the historic UAE Consensus, they achieved what many deemed impossible during a ceremony that marked the formal transfer of the presidency to Mukhtar Babayev.
Power of multilateralism
Dr. Al Jaber pointed out that negotiators at COP28 demonstrated that multilateralism can indeed effect change, emphasizing that determination ultimately triumphed over doubt and that the diligent efforts of the participants were rewarded.
The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) commenced on November 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and will run until November 22, 2024. The mission of COP29 is to limit global warming to 1.5°C, underscoring the urgent need for investment in climate initiatives. This strategy aims to elevate national ambitions, enhance transparency, and promote actionable financing to reduce emissions and tackle the impacts of climate change.
Milestone in global climate action
Since its introduction at COP28 last year, the UAE Consensus has become the pivotal reference point for global climate ambition and sustainable development. It encompasses a series of groundbreaking agreements across the climate spectrum, including a commitment to a just and orderly energy transition. Additionally, it sets global targets for tripling renewable energy capacity, doubling energy efficiency, and halting deforestation by 2030.
In his address at COP29, the outgoing president expressed his humility regarding the experience and conveyed his gratitude to all those who contributed to the historic, comprehensive, and groundbreaking UAE Consensus, including President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the entire UAE leadership.
Dr. Al Jaber remarked that progress did not cease with the conclusion of the UAE Consensus, stating that in the months following COP28, their initiatives had gained momentum. He noted that to date, 55 companies had signed onto the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), which now encompasses 44 percent of global oil production. He described the OGDC as the most extensive private sector partnership on decarbonization to date.
COP Troika
Dr. Al Jaber noted that at COP28, they established new benchmarks and set numerous precedents. A notable achievement was the creation of the COP Presidencies Troika, a new ‘mechanism for momentum’ that unites the presidencies of COP28, COP29, and COP30. He stated that this troika would continue to mobilize multilateral platforms, including the UN and G20, to solidify the legacy of the UAE Consensus. This initiative calls on all parties to adhere to the roadmap for keeping the 1.5°C target attainable.
Dr. Al Jaber concluded his address with a call to action and offered advice to the incoming COP29 president, Babayev. He emphasized that the consensus reached in Dubai was historic, but history would evaluate them based on their actions rather than their words. He encouraged positivity to lead the way and fuel the process, urging that actions should resonate louder than words and that achievements should endure beyond rhetoric. He reminded everyone that they are defined by what they do, not what they say.
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