Cop28 President-designate meets King Charles to discuss climate change solutions

Dr Sultan Al Jaber says British monarch is an 'inspirational advocate for environmental action'

King Charles III receives Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 president-designate and the UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change, at Buckingham Palace. PA

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the Cop28 president-designate and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, has met Britain's King Charles III to discuss the Emirates' plans for action to tackle climate change.

The Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change tweeted an image of the pair shaking hands as they met at Buckingham Palace in London on Thursday.

It said that Dr Al Jaber, who is also the UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, was honoured to meet King Charles, describing him as “an inspirational advocate for environmental action”.

The Cop28 president-designate looks forward to collaborating with King Charles, his partners and the world “to work closely on solutions at the intersection of climate and nature, focus on concrete actions across sectors to keep 1.5°C alive and support those most affected by climate impacts”, Dr Al Jaber's office added.

Dr Al Jaber shared details of Cop28's goal to deliver transformative action on climate change.

The UN climate talks will be held in the UAE later this year.

He later met Baroness Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, to discuss opportunities for youth involvement in the Cop28 agenda and to support reform of international financial institutions to unlock funds for those affected by climate change.

On Wednesday, Dr Al Jaber said his main priority would be to keep alive the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels.

“I have no intention whatsoever of deviating from the 1.5ºC goal,” said Dr Al Jaber in his first interview since being assigned the role of Cop28 President-designate.

“Keeping 1.5ºC alive is a top priority and it will cut across everything I do.”

As a long-standing campaigner on environmental issues, King Charles has warned of the dangers of climate change.

In 2021, he gave an impassioned speech about the urgency of facing the climate challenge at Cop26 and called for the global response to be put on a “warlike footing”.

Days before Cop27 in Egypt, marked the end of the UK’s role as host of Cop26 by bringing together 200 business leaders, politicians and campaigners to discuss practical measures to tackle climate change.

Earlier this week, King Charles met volunteers from the UK’s Turkish community sending aid to their homeland on Tuesday and expressed how “deeply sorry” he was following the devastating earthquake.