Adaptation must be 'front and centre' of climate agenda, says Al Jaber

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the president designate of COP28, to be held in the United Arab Emirates later this year, said on Sunday that adaptation must be "front and centre" of the climate agenda.

“We live in a region of extreme heat, water scarcity and food insecurity. We are also suffering harsh climate impacts, from droughts to the devastating floods of Derna," Jaber said, speaking at the MENA Climate Week in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

“To deliver for our region we must put adaptation front and centre of the climate agenda.”

Sultan Al Jaber also said that donors must double adaptation finance and replenish the green climate fund.

Adaptation means investing in ways to adapt to climate change like early warning systems, food systems and crop yields.

The COP28 summit is scheduled to take place in Dubai between November 30 and December 12.

The summit is seen as a crucial opportunity for governments to accelerate action to limit global warming with reports so far showing countries are off track to meet promises to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Al Jaber has argued for a more inclusive COP that brings the oil and gas industry into the climate debate.

"We have had 27 COPs, and you might be surprised to learn that 17 of them have been hosted in fossil fuel producing nations," Al Jaber said.

"The fact is, energy is fundamental to everyone, everywhere."

During his remarks at MENA Climate Week, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber expressed his confidence in the region's ability to drive transformative progress at COP28 later this year, highlighting the UAE leadership and the COP28 team’s unwavering determination to build a better future.#COP28 pic.twitter.com/OnDekqfCfl

— COP28 UAE (@COP28_UAE) October 8, 2023