COP27: “We meet at a critical time for our planet and our future generations,” says UAE President

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan delivered a speech at the COP27 conference being held in Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh.

He emphasised the importance of international cooperation to tackle climate change for the sake of future generations.

“We meet here today at a critical time for our planet and our future generations. Our world is faced with complex and unprecedented challenges, most notable among them being climate change, which now affects the world’s stability and security – including food security,” Sheikh Mohamed said.

I was pleased to attend the COP27 summit and I thank the host nation Egypt for providing this important platform for global collaboration. The UAE is firmly committed to pursuing effective climate action solutions and we look forward to welcoming the world at COP28 next year. pic.twitter.com/yofTBvL9ml

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) November 7, 2022

“We have only one planet, ladies and gentlemen, and with that in mind, it is imperative that we partner and work together in a spirit of determination and optimism to address this common challenge through climate action. We look at this as an opportunity for innovation, and a chance to find new solutions and diversify our economy.”

Sheikh Mohamed added that the UAE is a responsible energy supplier. “We will continue to play that role as we pursue a transition to alternate resources and technologies. By virtue of our geology, the oil and gas we have in the UAE is among the least carbon-intensive in the world. Nevertheless, we will continue to work towards reducing carbon emissions in the sector,” he noted.

#Egypt welcomes World Leaders, climate envoys, delegates and civil society from around the world to this years Sharm El Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit, where action meets ambition. #TogetherForImplementation #COP27 pic.twitter.com/QRSjZqeksC

— COP27 (@COP27P) November 7, 2022

“This is not a new role for us; our founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, directed us to stop all gas flaring decades ago, laying the foundations of sustainability in the UAE and guaranteeing the protection of both the environment and our natural resources. As a result, we have spent decades working towards diversifying our economy, and building our capabilities in the renewable and clean energy sector,” the UAE President said.

“To that end, the UAE became the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement, committing to its requirement to cut carbon emissions across all areas of our economy. The Emirates then went on to announce the UAE Net-Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative,” he noted.

Read: UAE reveals Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative

Sheikh Mohamed added, “As we prepare to host COP28 in 2023 at Expo City Dubai, we increasingly focus on supporting the implementation of recommendations from previous conferences, and we are working to complete the first global stocktake of emission pledges under the Paris Agreement.”

Read: UAE to host COP28 summit at Expo City Dubai

“We strive to make it as inclusive and diverse as possible, ensuring that women are well represented, while working to engage youth from around the world, channelling their energy and passion towards finding sustainable solutions,” he said.