COP28 UAE brings the world together at a critical moment for global transformative climate action. To deliver on its ambitious agenda, COP28 UAE will be inclusive, transparent, pragmatic, and results-oriented.
What is
COP?
A critical moment in global transformative climate action.
In the three decades since the Rio Summit and the launch of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP) has convened member countries every year to determine ambition and responsibilities and identify and assess climate measures. The 21st session of the COP (COP21) led to the Paris Agreement, which mobilized global collective action to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C, and to act to adapt to the already existing effects of climate change.
The UAE’s proven
track record on
climate action
As the first country in the region to ratify the Paris Agreement, the first to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions, and the first to announce a Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, the UAE is committed to raising ambition in this critical decade for climate action.
Our 2015 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) made us the first country in the region to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions by 2030, and we launched the National Net Zero by 2050 Pathway in November 2022, which sets the timeframe and identifies the mechanisms to implement the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.
The UAE was one of only 29 countries to submit a revised second NDC ahead of COP27. The enhanced target is expected to translate into an absolute emissions reduction of about 93.2 million metric tons of CO2e.
COP28
Leadership
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber,
President-Designate for COP28 UAE
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber brings two decades of leadership experience in government, business, energy systems, and diplomacy. During his double tenure as Special Envoy for Climate Change (2010- 2016, 2020-present), Dr. Al Jaber has played a seminal role in shaping the country’s clean energy path, including as founding CEO and currently the Chairman of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s pioneering renewable energy initiative, that has since become a leading global clean energy player. Dr. Al Jaber has also been an outcomes-focused participant at over 11 COPs, including the historic Paris COP21 in 2015. Upon joining Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as its CEO, Dr. Al Jaber has spearheaded a $15 billion decarbonization strategy and new low-carbon solutions business.
H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui,
UAE, Youth Climate Champion
The Youth Climate Champion role is designed to amplify the work of youth-led and youth-focused organizations within the COP process. H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development, will be the first-ever Youth Climate Champion with a Ministerial role. She will be responsible for engaging with youth globally in the lead-up to, and during, COP28 UAE. This will include working with local and global stakeholders to provide capacity-building opportunities for youth, as well as mechanisms to fund youth innovations in the field. H.E. Al Mazrui is also the Vice Chair of the Arab Youth Center, the Secretary General of the Education and Human Resources Council, Chairperson for Special Olympics UAE, and President of the National Center for Education Quality.
H.E. Razan Al Mubarak,
UN Climate Change High-Level Champion
As UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, H.E. Razan Al Mubarak will mobilize the private sector and civil society, along with driving efforts to address the climate and nature crises together. The role of the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion is focused on engaging state and non-state actors, including cities and sub-regional governments, indigenous peoples, civil society, and private sector partners. Al Mubarak will draw upon her experience as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Managing Director of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Managing Director of Emirates Nature-WWF to ensure progress on biodiversity, conservation, and nature-based solutions.
H.E. Mariam Almheiri,
UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment
H.E. Mariam Almheiri will support the COP28 UAE leadership team and continue to lead national progress on climate change, ensuring that the UAE delivers on its climate targets set out by the Paris Agreement and its Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, along with promoting nature-based solutions (100 million mangroves by 2030). She will also spearhead the UAE’s intention to drive new political visibility and outcomes on food systems transformation at COP28 UAE.
Join the
Pathway
to COP28
Click here to know more about how you can register and become a part of COP28 UAE.