The UAE has been hosting, between 30 November and 12 December, the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which has been considered the biggest ever among all climate conferences, as it witnessed participation of 198 countries (most of them represented by heads of states or heads of governments), and attended by more than 80 thousand people.
The conference has made multiple unprecedented accomplishments. 28 decisions has been made, including “The UAE Consensus”. an agreement by all the 198 participating countries to transition away from fossil fuel, which is the most significant achievement in that regard since the 2015 Paris Convention.
The Conference has also seen the creation and capitalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, which is set to help the poorest and most vulnerable countries pay for the irreversible impacts of climate change, the launching of Altérra, a USD 30 billion investment vehicle that seeks to bridge the climate finance gap, the mobilization of more than USD 85 billion to finance climate action around the world, and its push for rich countries to accelerate financial support to the most vulnerable ones, and to fulfill its old USD 100 Billion financing commitment.
Also achieved was an agreement calling for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly, and equitable manner” to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Countries have called for tripling renewable energy sources and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, reaching the peak of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, and adopting a global target to halt deforestation by 2023.
The Philippines has participated at COP28 with a big delegation consisting of 237 people, including 9 Secretaries/Officials with Cabinet Secretary rank, in addition to many Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries from different Agencies, private sector and civil society representatives.
During its participation, the Philippine Government has endorsed and signed most of the initiatives, declarations and pledges announced throughout the conference, including the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, the Emirates Declaration on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and climate action, and the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health.
The Philippines also opened its first-ever pavilion at climate conferences. H.E. Mohamed Obaid Alqataam Alzaabi, UAE Ambassador in Manila, participated in the opening ceremony, together with the Philippine delegation members, led by H.E. Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.
On the sidelines of the conference, the UAE and the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation and Capacity Building in the field of Climate Change, another MOU on Digital Infrastructure, and the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
