NEW YORK, US – Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber met UN Secretary General António Guterres and underscored the UAE’s commitment of deepening cooperation with the world body on climate action.
Guterres expressed his deep appreciation for the cooperation of the UAE’s COP Presidency and accepted Dr. Al Jaber’s invitation to attend COP28 in the UAE.
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) will take place in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
Dr. Al Jaber outlined the UAE’s key COP28 priorities across mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance, and process innovation.
The two sides discussed the urgent need to close the financing gap and to keep alive the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5ºC.
Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, attended the meeting and underscored that the agendas and outcomes of the work of the UN General Assembly and COP28 should be mutually reinforcing and aligned.
Dr. Al Jaber also met Csaba Kőrösi, President of the UN General Assembly.
The COP28 President-Designate highlighted the UAE’s intention to work closely with member states and arrive at actionable solutions which is inclusive of diverse stakeholders and accountable for commitments.
Dr. Al Jaber briefed the Permanent Representatives of the European Union member states on progress towards COP28 and potential areas of cooperation.
In a meeting with Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, the UAE minister noted the importance of addressing the needs and priorities of children and young people at COP28.
Dr. Al Jaber discussed with Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UN Development Program on how COP28 UAE will prioritize fragile and vulnerable communities affected most by the impacts of climate change.
Dr. Al Jaber also met with Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women and discussed how COP28 will put gender equality at the heart of climate action and the entire process.
The meeting was also attended by Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State, and Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
On the sidelines of the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), Dr. Al Jaber delivered keynote remarks at a high-level meeting to affirm the centrality of gender equality in ensuring a just energy transition and enhancing the effectiveness of climate finance.
The event was organized in partnership with the UAE Mission to the UN, UN Women, and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
In his remarks Dr. Al Jaber called on parties to identify ambitious gender deliverables for COP28 UAE.