On July 6th, in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, Minister for Industries and Technologies, and Chairman of Masdar, met and signed a memorandum of understanding for renewable energy projects UAE Delegation. On the same day, the Foreign Service Academy hosted His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technologies for the United Arab Emirates and President-elect of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). Through the meeting, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, in his talk, stressed the need for a holistic strategy to combat climate change, one that leaves no one behind and helps to unite the North and South. He stressed the importance of “turning words into deeds.
He advocated for group action to combat climate change. From adaptability to funding, he committed to establishing realistic, workable programs that produce results. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber stressed the importance of ensuring appropriate, accessible, and cheap financing to facilitate a responsible energy transition. He said that if we are serious about fixing the issue, we will need a lot of money for Climate Change. While COP27 will be remembered as a watershed moment for “loss and damage” financing, or climate reparations, it has been condemned for failing to progress on other climate goals. Advocates for a sustainable planet say the conference fell short of its vow to “phase down unabated coal power” by 2021, as stated in the Glasgow Climate Pact. They also expected the meeting to set new goals for keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The upcoming climate conference, COP28, is expected to result in climate action on numerous fronts. So, preparations have already begun. Predictions for Dubai, our thoughts on the topics will affect the future year.
Dubai Expo City will play host to Cop28 in November, the yearly sequel to Cop27, which took place in Egypt in 2016 COPE 28. It will work to advance measures to cut emissions responsible for global warming and address the implications of climate change, as outlined in the Paris Agreement of 2015.
His thesis was, “The time for discussion and debate on climate change has passed, and it is time for us to act. We put in a lot of time and effort to make sure we accomplished everything we set out to do.” Here are some of the main points that we were able to glean from his talk. The following ingredients are essential for success: These four basic elements must be noticed.
A Paradigm Shift:
We should use COPE 28 Change in Perspective and build an energy infrastructure with an eye toward the future while also striving to minimize the environmental impact of that infrastructure. We require Funding, resources, etc., to transmit renewable energy—the banking industry needs to work toward establishing uniform standards.
The Time has Come for a plan of action that results in the desired outcome with minimal effort on the part of the individual is said to be time-efficient.
If promises made to developing countries are to be kept, action agendas and plans must be acknowledged and accepted. It was agreed that these countries would get aid due to this pledge. Doing so can increase the likelihood that the promise will be fulfilled. The $100 billion mark is expected to be broken in 2023; by 2024 and 2025, yearly funding will have far exceeded the goal. The agenda of COP28 relies heavily on the participation of a wide range of stakeholders, including those in higher education, academic institutions, politicians, practitioners, researchers, and young people. Every one of these departments handles a specific part of the operation. The academic community plays a crucial role in the development of COPA 28. Because of this shift, today’s youth will view the world differently than their parents and grandparents.
Nurture the Culture of Inclusivity
COPE 28’s second objective is to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome and respected by establishing policies and procedures to broaden participation and prevent exclusion. The current iteration of the COPE is open to everybody and the most welcoming. A social norm that encourages others to join in and gives them the resources they need to succeed.
No One Left Behind
No one should be left behind, so maintaining a rapid pace with everyone else is COPE 28’s 3rd objective. Keeping sight of the fact that we must devise plans for international cooperation in opposition to this all-encompassing program is essential. Maintaining a consistent line of thought toward the other significant action is necessary. Cooperation from all parties involved is highly desirable. As he re-iterated, we invite you to join us and join our team by working with us to achieve our goals. Our achievements will be remembered by posterity and recorded in the annals of history.
Connect the Dots Between South and North and West and East
Closing the development gap is COPE 28’s fourth overarching goal. Actions must be taken to prevent further polarization of society and foster the growth of a culture that welcomes and values diversity in all its forms—aiming to lessen the gap between the southern and northern hemispheres and between the western and eastern halves of the globe. To ensure a bright future, we must all pull together to address the threat of climate change. Complete overhaul of the system to make it more user-centric in its operation. Fill in the blanks to close the gap between the western and eastern regions.
COPE 28 A Paradigm Shift,” all parties involved must contribute to and act immediately on the idea of an ongoing endeavor for it to be successful. Because climate change is an ongoing issue, we need comprehensive strategies for the future. Successor COPEs must uphold the original COPE’s plans.
All relevant parties in developing and developed countries must be held accountable, information must be shared openly, and everyone involved must have a say in how aid money is spent. The policymaking process should be open and public in both areas.
COPE 28 claims to welcome participants from all around the world. However, it is essential to determine if this is the case. Will those on the margins and those directly affected by this calamity be able to have their views heard? With a plan, overcoming the power differentials and other obstacles preventing the general people from getting on board with this goal will be possible. It is essential to evaluate inculcation’s success. The COPE 28 agenda is at risk if people can’t access the money, capital, and resources they need. Interpersonal communication can also be hampered by culture and language distance. As a result, there must be proper mechanisms in place.
Cooperation on a global scale is required so that countries and stakeholders with varied economic, social, and development levels may tackle problems on an even playing field. Various factors, including experience, perspective, and power differences, can hinder international cooperation. More action, not more ideals, is what is needed from the agenda.
A concrete strategy and plan are necessary to bridge the gap between the South and North/East and West. Regional disparities persist; a one-size-fits-all approach cannot be practical; it is essential to recognize the unique circumstances and obstacles. Established states should be carbon emissions’ responsibility while developing states should receive assistance.
To sum up, he stressed the importance of an inclusive plan to combat climate change, which does not leave anyone out and works to unite the North and the South. The importance of “turning words into deeds” was a recurring theme in his address. COPE 28 will determine whether or not the UAE’s efforts to change the globe into a more friendly and cooperative manner are just empty rhetoric and tired cliches to lure the world like other COPE goals. The language of COPE 28 is novel in its focus on fostering a culture of inclusiveness with practical measures to address climate change.
The author is an MPhil Scholar at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid I Azam University Islamabad. Her areas of interest are Middle East and South Asia, International Law, and Gender Issues. The author can be contacted at roxemary000@gmail.com. She Tweets: @maria_mansab