Cop28: UAE to highlight 'relief, recovery and peace' at climate summit

Day will be dedicated to discuss links between peace, security and climate change

Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, at the United Nations Security Council ministerial open debate. Photo: Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

The UAE plans to highlight “relief, recovery and peace” at the Cop28 climate summit this year.

The key talks typically have a programme of thematic days to raise awareness about climate issues.

It is envisaged this day will highlight how peace and climate change are interlinked and how countries and communities experiencing humanitarian and security crises can be assisted to become more climate resilient.

Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, told delegates of the plan at a United Nations Security Council ministerial open debate on Tuesday.

Pursuing 'ambitious agenda'

"At Cop28 in Dubai later this year, the incoming UAE presidency plans to introduce a 'relief, recovery and peace' day," Ms Al Mheiri said.

"This is the first of its kind at any Cop and its purpose is to highlight the intersection of climate change, peace and security and propose practical solutions to prevent and address the climate burden on stability.

“We are therefore promoting an ambitious agenda at Cop28 in response to the critical lack of accessible, affordable and sufficient climate finance – particularly for countries and communities experiencing humanitarian and security crises.

"They receive in some cases 80 times less per capita than other developing countries, which already receive inadequate flows."

Mariam Al Mheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, chaired a debate on 'threats to international peace and security' to examine the effect of climate change on the roles and responsibilities of UN peacekeeping and special political missions. Photo: Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

"The time is now to fully expose and better comprehend how these phenomena interact, what role the international community can play and how we can collaborate to build more prosperous, climate-resilient and peaceful societies.”

Climate challenges

It came as Ms Al Mheiri chaired a debate on "threats to international peace and security" to examine the effect of climate change on the roles and responsibilities of UN peacekeeping and special political missions.

Security Council member states and leading international figures, including Juan Manuel Santos, former president of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate; Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN under secretary general for peace operations; and Salma Kadry, climate, peace and security specialist at CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) attended the meeting.

During the debate, Ms Al Mheiri stressed the importance of integrating climate considerations into UN mandates and peacekeeping operations and showed how climate action and finance can contribute to conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding.

“While the impacts of climate change on peace and security are highly variable and context-specific, they should not be overlooked," Ms Al Mheiri said.

"Climate change and conflict are mutually reinforcing. The Security Council must approach conflict through a climate-sensitive lens.

"We must strengthen the capacity and mandates of relevant peace operations to incorporate climate change in their risk mitigation and adaptation strategies, as well as efforts in conflict prevention and resolution.

“We must strengthen the capacity and mandates of relevant peace operations to incorporate climate change in their risk mitigation and adaptation strategies, as well as efforts in conflict prevention and resolution.”

The UAE has assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for June. During its presidency and council term, the UAE has committed to elevating the many sides to climate change. The UAE also serves as a co-chair of the informal expert group of members of the Security Council on climate, peace and security.

Cop28, meanwhile, runs at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12.

A provisional list of thematic days has already been released and it includes days focused on health, food and water systems, youth and cities.

The final list of thematic days is expected to be released in the next few weeks.

Cop27 in Sharm El Sheikh - in pictures

A man wears a face mask that reads "no climate justice without human rights" during a protest at the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. AP

A presentation at the American University in Cairo Pavilion. Reuters

Egyptian artist Bahia Sheha stands inside her installation "Heaven & Hell in the Anthropocene." AFP

Akihiro Nishimura, minister of the environment of Japan, reviews notes with others at the COP27. AP

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, right, and Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate greet each other at the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. AP

Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva poses for a group photograph with representatives of his country's indigenous people. AFP

People attend the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh. EPA

Activists dancing during a discussion on leaflets at the Cop27 climate conference, taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. AFP

An activist wears a polar bear outfit as part of campaigning. AFP

From left, Rakia Amandou of Niger, Ba Aminata of Burkina Faso, Kenyan Rosemary Nenini, Fatima Mustafa Ahmed from Sudan and Djeneb Dicko from Burkina Faso at the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion. AP

Abdulla Nasser Musallam Al Rahbi, Oman's Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League, speaks at the COP27 climate conference in Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. AFP

Climate activists demonstrate in the designated protest zone. AP

Sheikh Abdullah, Director General of Environment at the Public Authority of Kuwait, speaks at Cop27. AFP

Visitors at the Sharm El Sheikh International Convention Centre. AFP

A display outside the convention centre. AFP

A fountain in the green zone at the International Convention Centre at sunset. AFP

Mohamed bin Daina, right, Bahrain's Special Envoy for Climate Affairs and Chief Executive at the Supreme Council for Environment, at the conference. AFP

Members of Extinction Rebellion stage a protest at the Glencairn tidal pool outside Cape Town, South Africa to mark Cop27's 'Water Day'. AP

From left, Fahad Al Maskari of the Khalifa University, Frank Hartmann, Ghaleb Al Breiki of the UAE University, and Mouna Maroun of the University of Haifa, sign an agreement at Cop27. AFP

John Kerry, US special presidential envoy for climate, at Cop27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. AP Photo

Australian climate activists offer bananas to climate summit participants. AFP

Climate activist Sabrina Elba. AP Photo

Egyptian security forces stand guard during the protest. AFP

US President Joe Biden. AFP

Mr Biden with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. AP

A Cop27 sign in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, provides the backdrop for this woman's selfie. Reuters

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi speaks to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the climate summit. AFP

A water wonderland greets this child at an acquarium in the Cop27 Green Zone. Reuters

Mr El Sisi, second left, takes part in a cycling marathon on the sidelines of Cop27. EPA

Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks in Sharm El Sheikh about 'complicated' talks to set up a protection zone around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. AFP

Frankie the dinosaur. Reuters

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Reuters

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan, CEO of the Alliances for Global Sustainability; Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Minister of State for Food Security; and Hatem Dowidar, group CEO at e&. AFP

Sameh Shoukry, Cop27 president, centre left, poses for photos in the youth pavilion. AP

A visitor looks at the 'Zero Point' series of collage portraits by Turkish artist Deniz Sagdic, each of which is made from a particular kind of upcycled waste material. Getty

Participants visit the Ukrainian pavillon. AFP

Mr Kerry speaks during a session on accelerating the clean energy transition in developing countries. AP

Youth climate activists. Pictured, from the left, Eric Njuguna of Kenya, Nicole Becker of Argentina, Vanessa Nakate of Uganda, Sophia Kianni from Iran, and Mitzi Jonelle Tan of the Philippines. AP

Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, right, chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group, poses for a photo with Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, the UAE's Minister of State for Financial Affairs. AFP

Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Bloomberg

A police officer stands at the entrance of the Sharm El Sheikh International Convention Centre during Cop27. Reuters

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. AP Photo

Former US vice president Al Gore speaks during a session at Cop27. AP Photo

Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest. AFP