UAE Regional Climate Dialogue urges accelerating action

The UAE Regional Dialogue for Climate Action has ended with calls to speed up progress on action.

Participants at the talks included United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) President-Designate Alok Sharma, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, together with Ministers and high level representatives from the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Iraq, Sudan and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The event further reinforced the UAE’s regional climate leadership, providing a common ground for participating nations to build a shared vision for climate action ahead of COP26 in November.

A Group Statement issued at the end of the Dialogue highlighted the collective efforts to accelerating climate action, stating "we will work together to ensure the success of the Paris Agreement and will cooperate with our global partners to strengthen climate ambition".

It added "we are committed to reducing emissions by 2030 and working collectively to help the region adapt to the serious impacts of climate change, to collaborating on mobilizing investment in a new energy economy".

Earlier, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received John Kerry at Al Shati Palace.

They explored the prospects of accelerating cooperation between the UAE and the US in all areas relevant to environmental protection, and mitigation of the economic and ecological impacts of climate change.

The two sides underlined the importance of ensuring global synergy and sustaining cooperation between international organisations as well as sustainable solutions to address challenges and help countries to meet their climate commitments to ensure a more sustainable future.

The discussions also touched on a number of the UAE's key renewable energy-based projects, aimed at curbing climate change and advancing sustainable development at the local and global levels.

They underlined the importance of the UAE hosting the first Regional Climate Dialogue, being a platform for sharing ideas and views on the key global climate-related issues and challenges faced by the world.

The Dialogue covered core themes, such as stepping up the deployment of renewable energy, exploring the potential of new zero-carbon energy sources, maximizing the impact of mitigation technologies, including investments in new and emerging innovative solutions, as well as carbon capture, and reducing the carbon emission intensity of hydrocarbon fuels.

The conversation focused on efforts to reduce the impacts of accelerating climate change and trends that are of particular concern to the region, such as food and water security, combating desertification, and environmental conservation.

COP26 President-Designate, Alok Sharma, said: "We all need to act with urgency to address climate change. Which is why I welcome the commitment today from our partners across the Middle East, at the UAE Regional Climate Dialogue, to accelerate climate action.

"Ahead of COP26, I urge countries to follow this commitment with net zero targets and furthering ambition in this crucial decade to 2030."

The COP26 Presidency welcomed the statement and progress in the region, and reiterated their call for the submission of enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions and net zero commitments ahead of COP26.