The world’s largest climate summit, the Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), between 30 November and 12 December 2023, is a landmark moment in our planet’s future. With the UN 2030 climate target in perspective, we have only seven years left to reduce global carbon emissions by half and limit global warming to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels by 2050.
This year, the UAE has the honor to host the COP summit and welcome around 200 nationalities to address the most important global challenge facing us today. The COP 28 Presidency, led by the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, has set out four key pillars to deliver the necessary course correction. These include fast-tracking a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition; fixing climate finance; focusing on people, lives, and livelihoods; and full inclusivity.
The agenda in COP28 will be to achieve a just, equitable, and durable transition and to put the loss and damage fund in action for the most vulnerable nations. As a global hub for renewable technologies, the UAE is uniquely positioned to build consensus around climate mitigation and adaptation. It has $50 billion investments in clean energy worldwide and plans to invest $50 billion more within the next decade. With green projects across the globe including Central Asia, Caucasus, Africa, and Europe, the UAE has set the objective to achieve 100 GW renewal portfolio by 2030.
Building on this momentum, world leaders gathering at COP28 must overcome geopolitical divides and unite around the common goal to de-carbonize our economies in a sustainable way. The important point is to set achievable milestones along the journey to meet zero-emissions targets through innovative means. COP 28 is the last chance to make transformational and practical progress towards addressing the climate crisis; we must use the opportunity.
