The United Arab Emirate’s climate envoy and designated president of the COP28 summit, Sultan al-Jaber has said his country will explore all partnership opportunities with India to help the latter’s growth and low carbon plans.
“India’s goal of adding 500 gigawatts of clean energy in the next seven years is a powerful statement of intent. As one of the largest investors in renewables, the UAE will explore all opportunities for partnership with India,” Sultan al-Jaber was quoted as saying at the World Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi.
The UAE, a major Opec oil exporter, is hosting the COP28 climate summit this year scheduled to take place in Dubai between November 30 and December 12 as the second Arab state to do so after Egypt in 2022 and the conference will be the first global assessment of progress since the landmark Paris Agreement in 2015 to limit global warming.
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Al-Jaber reiterated on Wednesday he would keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius front and centre at the summit.
Scientists said to limit the global average temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to prevent far more severe climate change effects and the Paris Agreement is the commitment made by countries to keep up with the warming.
As COP28 president, Dr Al Jaber will help shape the conference agenda and intergovernmental negotiations and has already said he would continue to listen and engage with all in the lead up to COP28, including civil society and the private sector.
“Let’s remember that the world makes progress through partnership, not polarisation,” he said.
Dr Al Jaber also recognised India’s prominent global role and noted that the country, which assumes the Presidency of the G20 this year, is soon to become the world’s third largest economy.
“India’s sustainable development is critical, not just for India, but for the whole world,” he said.
“We need to transform food systems, that account for one third of global emissions. Embrace agri-tech to feed a growing planet on a limited carbon budget. And enhance water use so that everyone on this planet has access to safe drinking water,” the minister said.
At COP28, he said transforming our food and water systems will be given the same attention as transitioning our energy and industrial systems as there is need to advance on all fronts at the same time.
He also emphasised the UAE’s support for India’s G20 focus on transformative action towards a cleaner, greener, and bluer future, with just and equitable growth for all and lauded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership as guiding India on its path to a prosperous and sustainable future.
Following his address, on the sidelines of the World Sustainable Development Summit, al-Jaber was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Vice Chancellor of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Prateek Sharma as the first-ever recipient. He was awarded in light of his achievements and contributions to climate action.
“This was a great honor for me personally and a testament to the UAE leadership’s commitment to embed the principles of sustainability into our development as a nation,” Dr. Al Jaber said.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
