The UAE is answering its sceptics at Cop28, says climate minister

Mariam Al Mheiri said there were 'a lot of people' that were unsure if the UAE could pull off the conference

Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the world needs hope. Antonie Robertson/The National

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The UAE is answering its sceptics at Cop28 and changing international perceptions about what the country stands for, a UAE minister has said.

Mariam Al Mheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, said that before the conference there were “a lot of people” who were unsure if the UAE could pull off Cop28 or deliver during the crucial talks.

However, she said people were “looking at us a little differently” now the Cop28 presidency had delivered early wins such as the adaptation of the summit’s agenda and the launch of the loss and damage fund.

“It was a huge wake-up call for everyone to say … they are a small country but they have managed to make sure all the parties are happy with the agenda on day one,” Ms Al Mheiri told The National in an interview at Cop28.

“You want to focus more on the real work,” she said. “You don’t want to waste time on an agenda. The world is not in a good place right now and this is what people need to see – hope.”

Cop28 has entered its fourth day with many world leaders now leaving the site that is now open to the public. Many talks are continuing and climate advocates are making their voices heard.

'Let them judge'

“Having the world here is an honour,” said Ms Al Mheiri. “But it is also important for them to see who we are. A lot of people have a certain perception of what we are, what we do, and which energy sources we only rely on,” she said.

She pointed to the fact Abu Dhabi had opened a substantial solar park days ago and the country was working hard on its net-zero targets.

“At the end of the Cop, let them judge. Right now I want them to look at the deliverables.”

Cop28 has started strongly with a flurry of major announcements – outside the negotiated process of talks among close to 200 countries that culminate on December 12 – including a crucial UAE-led declaration on food.

The Emirates Declaration was signed by 134 countries and aims to cut emissions from farming, responsible for about a third of the world’s greenhouse gases, by moving to more sustainable ways.

Ms Al Mheiri said the declaration covers around 5.8 billion people, 500 million farmers, 70 per cent of the food we eat, and about 75 per cent of warming emissions from the food and agriculture sector. But the implementation was “much more important”.

“We know many countries are still not there yet,” she said. “And that’s because the climate finance issue was not working. The money wasn’t going where it was supposed to go. Those countries had to remain on energy sources they have.”

Accessible, available and affordable

The UAE made a $4.5bn dollar investment at the African Climate Summit in September and at Cop28 a further host of financial pledges have been made including a separate $30bn climate finance pledge from the UAE that aims to find solutions to the world's funding challenges. She also pointed to how the UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched a $200 million partnership focused on agricultural research and assistance.

“The money is one thing,” said Ms Al Mheiri. “But making sure the money is accessible, available and affordable for those who actually need it. That is what we are trying to crack right now.”

Amid all the fanfare of the announcements, parties from close to 200 countries are also engaged in talks to tackle the climate crisis. World leaders are currently in what is known as the negotiated process.

Ms Al Mheiri said she couldn’t comment on the details of what has happening in the negotiating rooms but the “pressure was on” with the separate major announcements showing what could be accomplished.

She said the UAE had ensured a well-run Cop28 along with “climate-conscious food” at the Expo City Dubai venue.

“The enabling environment is important and that’s why I am very optimistic we are going to see some great outcomes from the negotiations.”

Green Zone at Cop28 opens to the public – in pictures

President Sheikh Mohamed and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres hold a meeting at the Cop28 summit in Dubai. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Participants walk among flagpoles on day four of the Cop28 summit in Dubai. Getty Images

Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair at the summit. AP

Joseph Vipond from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment crosses the Blue Zone. Getty Images

David Miliband, president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, addresses a session at Cop28. Getty Images

Delegates are photographed in the Blue Zone on the fourth day of Cop28. Pawan Singh / The National

Participants walk at Expo City Dubai. EPA

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Tanzanian President Samia Hassan and Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, attend the Reaching the Last Mile Forum held alongside Cop28. Reuters

Cop28 visitors ride a train in the Green Zone at Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors in the Green Zone at Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors ride an electric cart in the Green Zone. Pawan Singh / The National

Located in the Sustainability District, the Green Zone will host a wide variety of events and workshops until the final day of Cop28 on December 12. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors at the water feature in the Green Zone. Pawan Singh / The National

Members of the public ride electric scooters in the Green Zone. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

People arrive for the fourth day of the Cop28 summit at Expo City Dubai. EPA

A welcome sign at the Cop28 venue. AP

People walk through the site near Al Wasl Dome. AP

Eleni Myrivili, global chief heat officer at UN Habitat, with former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Indian social worker Reema Nanavaty at the Resilience Hub. AP

Al Gore, environmentalist and former US vice president, presents the Climate Trace global greenhouse gases emissions database on day four of Cop28. Getty Images

Elizabeth Yee and John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, at a session at the US Centre. AP

About 200 countries are taking part in the Cop28 talks. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Pope Francis records a video message to be broadcast during the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion, at Casa Santa Marta, in the Vatican. Reuters

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation, speaks at the Health Day opening session. Getty Images

Attendees arrive at the Cop28 summit. AP

The Voice Action hub for peaceful protesters at Cop28, Expo City, Dubai. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The Expo City farm, which will remain in operation after Cop28 ends. Khushnum Bhandari / The National