Ahead of the UAE's transition of the COP presidency to Azerbaijan, a senior Emirati official has pledged to continue efforts in aiding the global reduction of carbon emissions, emphasizing that the UAE's role is far from complete. “We will persist in collaborating with the world to cut emissions, accelerate adaptation, fulfill the UAE Consensus, and achieve Mission 1.5,” stated Hana Al Hashimi, Chief Negotiator for COP28, in an interview with Khaleej Times. COP29 is scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11-22, where nations will strive to build upon the historic UAE Consensus achieved last year. This consensus, considered the most ambitious and comprehensive set of outcomes negotiated under the UNFCCC process since COP21, urged all parties to shift away from fossil fuels and triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency globally by 2030.
“We will maintain our role as a bridge-builder and continue to advocate for the Global South. Our approach will be solution-focused and development-oriented, exploring opportunities presented by climate action and constructing development models based on these. I am enthusiastic about this,” Al Hashimi added. The COP, or Conference of Parties, involves 198 governments evaluating global efforts to advance the Paris Agreement and the Convention, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
According to Al Hashimi, the Emirati spirit was pivotal in the historic accomplishment at COP28. “The Emirati spirit truly united all these efforts,” she noted. “A significant turning point in this process, when it seemed uncertain how we would achieve an outcome, was when the COP President convened a Changemakers' Majlis. Rooted in Emirati tradition, this brought together leaders for an open, honest discussion on solutions, balancing scientific requirements with the need for equity and inclusivity. This greatly assisted us in reaching our goals.”
Al Hashimi acknowledged several challenges. “We had to unite the world,” she said. “The first-ever global stocktake was a two-year process involving inputs from technical and political sectors across all countries to outline our roadmap to keep 1.5℃ within reach.” She emphasized the biggest challenge was the consensus-based approach, requiring agreement from all 198 parties. “We had a dedicated team of Emirati leaders determined to collaborate with all countries to achieve the shared vision and global trajectory our leadership envisioned, delivering a successful outcome.”
For Al Hashimi, the most memorable moments at COP28 were when the gavel marked historic decisions. “There were two pivotal moments when the gavel went down, making history,” she recalled. “The first was the operationalization of the fund for loss and damage response, followed by the ambition to capitalize this fund. The second was the gaveling of the historic consensus, including the global stocktake, which introduced unprecedented language on a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition, along with comprehensive plans for nature, industry, finance, and international cooperation.”
She expressed pride in the nation's achievements, noting that climate change is deeply personal to the UAE, facing issues like extreme heat and water scarcity. “A couple of decades ago, 70% of our economy relied on hydrocarbons, whereas today, 70% is independent of them,” she concluded.
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