The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) concluded its work on Wednesday, after representatives of nearly 200 countries, in addition to the European Union, Dubai approved the “UAE Climate Agreement”, which features an ambitious climate action plan to limit long-term global temperature rises to 1.5C.
The agreement called on the parties to achieve an orderly, responsible, fair and logical transition to an energy system free of all sources of traditional fuel, the emissions of which are not mitigated, with the aim to achieve climate neutrality, and encourage them to provide nationally determined contributions that cover all economic sectors.
The agreement also aims to triple the production capacity of renewable energy sources and double the rate of annual energy efficiency improvement by 2030, as well as building momentum to establish a new climate finance structure.
The UAE Agreement came after a year of broad diplomatic engagements based on inclusiveness, and two weeks of intense negotiations, and is in line with the goal of the COP28 presidency, which is to provide an ambitious, effective, and tangible response to the results of the Global Stocktake that evaluates progress in achieving the Paris Climate Agreement.
The pledges contained in the final text include reference for the first time to a transition to an energy system free of traditional fuel sources, to enable the world to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, and to encourage parties to make nationally determined contributions that cover all economic sectors, in addition to building momentum to reform the climate finance architecture.
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, said that the COP28 agreement primarily emphasizes the importance of the energy transition, noting it brought the Paris climate goals back to the forefront.
“The energy transition enables us to balance reducing emissions with our oil activity, and our programs work to reduce the carbon footprint of our products,” he remarked.
For his part, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and President of COP28, said that the world needed a new path of action.
He added: “We worked hard and sincerely to build a better future for our people and our planet, and we can be proud of our historic achievement.”
Al Jaber praised the conference’s balanced action plan that supports reducing emissions, increases interest in the issue of adaptation, contributes to developing and reformulating global climate financing mechanisms, and achieving the requirements for addressing losses and damages.
He noted that the plan takes into account the national specifications of each country, supports climate action and economic growth simultaneously, and is based on consensus that is enhanced by cooperation and teamwork.
A representative of Saudi Arabia at the COP28 welcomed the agreement, pointing out that confronting climate change necessitates reducing emissions using all technologies.
“We must seize every opportunity to reduce emissions, regardless of their source. We must harness all technologies to achieve this goal,” he underlined.
