ABU DHABI, UAE 18 September, 2021: The UAE and the United Kingdom agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation to accelerate climate action and environmental protection in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by H.E. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate, and the Rt. Hon. James Cleverly, MP, UK Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, according to a UAE Government Press release.

The MoU comes ahead of the UN COP26 climate summit in November, due to be hosted by the UK in the city of Glasgow, and offers a framework for wide-ranging cooperation by government entities, companies, and research agencies in support of realising COP26 goals, the release stated.

The agreement recognises that strong, decisive climate action can be an engine for economic growth, job creation and sustainable development and aligns with the UAE’s recently launched “Principles of the 50” roadmap to mark the country’s Golden Jubilee. The Principles will help forge a new era of economic and social growth for the UAE over the next 50 years, the release said.

H.E. Dr Al Jaber said: “Fifteen years ago, the UAE made a strategic decision to invest heavily in innovation and low-carbon energy, especially renewables and in partnership with other countries. In the UK, we were an anchor investor in some of the country’s largest wind projects – including Dudgeon and the London Array – that have helped make Great Britain the world’s leading market for offshore wind energy.

“Today’s MoU, on the eve of the UN climate summit in Glasgow, builds on our long-standing partnership with the UK, including on environmental cooperation and investment. We look forward to strengthening our collaboration across all sectors to help support and realize the bold ambitions the UK has outlined for COP26.”

Under the MoU, the UAE and the UK will work together in seeking to deliver on the Paris Agreement, including by reducing emissions to keep 1.5 degrees Centigrade in reach, facilitating greater action on adaptation, mobilising finance for climate action and collaborating on pathways to low emission and climate-resilient growth, the release said.

The UAE was the first country in the Middle East region to ratify and sign the Paris Accords and the first in the MENA region to set an economy-wide reduction in emissions by 2030, as part of its second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the release said. The country has a demonstrable track record on progressive climate initiatives across all key sectors, including energy, industry and agriculture, the release said.

The agreement with the UK focuses on facilitating the exchange of information on policies, programmes, regulations, and business models that support joint efforts on climate action, the release said. It will also better enable research and development, promote investments and the adoption of technology, and support private sector collaboration as well as assist with coordination and cooperation on development and humanitarian activities.