DUBAI, UAE, 27 December 2023: The UAE Council for Climate Action announced that it held its fourth meeting, chaired by Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE.

Making the announcement through a Press release, the Council said, it conducted an online meeting to review the national efforts towards climate ambition, the outcomes of the recent COP28 hosted by the UAE, and other related matters. 

The Council said that H.E. Almheiri underlined the success of the UAE COP28, which has marked a new phase in the UAE’s journey in climate action, both locally and globally. Addressing the meeting, H.E. Almheiri said: “The achievements of the UAE during the conference are a result of the hard work and cooperation of all concerned parties, including the private sector, academic and research sectors, and all members of society. Our country is committed to following the vision and directives of the wise leadership to ensure a sustainable future for the next generation.” 

H.E. Almheiri added: “The COP28 was a landmark event to address and adapt to climate change. The conference resulted in a historic UAE Consensus, which marked a renewed commitment to accelerate climate action and keep our North Star – 1.5 degrees C – within reach to protect Earth’s planet. The conference raised approximately USD 85 billion to launch a new phase of climate action worldwide. Additionally, the conference activated the Loss and Damage Fund and mobilised approximately USD 800 million to help the countries most affected by climate change. The conference also produced 11 declarations covering various areas of climate action, which received widespread support from dozens of countries.” 

H.E. Almheiri said: “COP28 was a successful event that concluded this year. We hope to continue building on the results achieved in the coming years to strengthen the UAE’s position in global climate action. We aim to create a leading global model for sustainability across various national sectors and achieve the goals of the UAE NetZero 2050 strategy. We believe that taking climate action will provide an opportunity to achieve more sustainable economic growth and prosperity for the people of the UAE.” 

The Council said that, during the meeting, attendees reviewed the achievements made in the declarations issued at COP28, including the “COP28 Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge”. This pledge, the Council added, aims to triple the production capacity of renewable energy sources and double global energy efficiency. Furthermore, the Council said that the attendees of the meeting discussed the “COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action”. 

The Council said that it reviewed the progress of several national initiatives approved in December 2023 by the UAE government, including the UAE NetZero 2050 strategy, long-term emission reduction, and the National Carbon Registry, in addition to various projects and initiatives currently being implemented, such as the UAE’s National Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system and the National Adaptation Action Program. The Council added that the meeting also included discussions on the National Dialogue for Climate Ambition, the Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge, the Climate Ambassadors Programme, and the COP28 Frontline Staff Training Initiative.