UAE, EU pledge to rally support for global renewable energy goals

The UAE and the European Commission have pledged to build support ahead of this year's COP28 climate summit for global goals to expand renewable energy.

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President Designate, met with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission in Brussels.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together to facilitate the “highest possible ambition” for this year’s COP28 climate conference.

Following the meeting at the European Commission headquarters, they released a joint statement highlighting a common vision for a just energy transition that leaves no one behind and that promotes policies and investments that scale up renewable energy while working towards an energy system that is free of unabated fossil fuels.

Dr. Al Jaber said, “Europe, and the European Union, are already playing a leading role in climate action, and will be vital and trusted partners at COP28. We appreciate the European Commission’s support for our call to triple renewable energy by 2030. We can’t achieve our shared objectives unless we work together in a collective effort.”

He urged all governments to align their national efforts with the shared commitment to achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, including pursuing efforts to keep global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach.

#COP28UAE President-Designate #DrSultanAlJaber met with @EU_Commission President @vonderleyen, in Brussels today. They discussed #COP28 agenda priorities and ambitions, as well as collaboration on multilateral initiatives for successful climate outcomes. pic.twitter.com/EqhehjPIC8

— COP28 UAE (@COP28_UAE) June 7, 2023

Both organisations will look to lay the groundwork for a larger mobilisation of climate finance from all sources that meets the needs of developing countries to embark on the energy transition.

This will include advancing reforms to existing international financial institutions (IFIs) and identifying innovative mechanisms that will accelerate climate action and unlock private finance flow to emerging markets and developing economies.

The European Commission and the Incoming COP28 Presidency intend to maintain close coordination at the political and technical level in the coming months, working together at a number of events.

These include the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact from June 22-23, the Ministerial on Climate Action from July 13-14, the G20 Energy Ministers Meeting on July 22, the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers Meeting on July 28, the G20 Leaders Summit from September 9-10, the UNSG’s Climate Summit on September 20 and multiple regional political forays around the world.