UAE calls to speed up an agreement on Climate Change

The United Arab Emirates has participated in the third and final of a series of informal ministerial consultations to find political consensus on key climate issues ahead of the 21st session of the Conference of Parties, COP21, in December, where world leaders are expected to establish a new global climate change agreement.

The consultation gathered over 60 ministers from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Germany, Egypt, India and Saudi Arabia. The UAE delegation at the meeting was led by Dr. Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, UAE Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, and Director of Energy and Climate Change at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The UAE is prepared to work with other nations to combat climate change," Dr. Al Zeyoudi said. "We firmly believe that through global partnerships and domestic policy, we can overcome climate challenges and turn them into opportunities to build a more diversified and sustainable economy."

COP 21 is considered to be the most pivotal climate negotiation in recent history. The conference will convene more than 190 nations in Paris next month to agree a framework to curb global warming.

The ministerial discussion comes after nearly 160 countries, including the UAE, submitted their Intended Nationally-Determined Contribution, or INDC, an outline of what actions countries plan to take to combat climate change, to prepare for COP21. The UAE’s action plan includes a national target to generate 24 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2021, which reinforces the country’s commitment to green growth.

"The UAE is fully committed to the negotiation process and to achieving a legally binding climate agreement applicable to all parties," Dr. Al Zeyoudi said. "We expect a successful COP21 that will help move the world forward toward our collective goal of a sustainable future."

The ministerial consultations, led by Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Peruvian Minister of Environment, and Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minister, have been organised to support the negotiation process and ensure continued progress toward an international agreement at COP21.