Arab League backs UAE’s bid to host global climate summit Cop28 in 2023

UAE's bid to host Cop28 focuses on the economic case for climate action

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit chairs the Arab Foreign Ministers 153rd annual meeting at the Arab League headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo on March 4, 2020. (Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)
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The Arab League has given its support to the UAE's efforts to host a UN global climate summit in 2023.

In May this year, the Emirates launched a bid to bring the UN Climate Change Conference, known as Cop28, to Abu Dhabi in November 2023, which would draw thousands of decision-makers.

The Arab League made its decision at a ministerial meeting of the Economic and Social Council in Cairo last week.

A draft resolution, with a recommendation to support the UAE’s offer, was assigned to the General Secretariat of the Arab League to present to the Council of Arab Ministers responsible for environmental affairs.

“Climate change is the issue of our age," said Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League.

"Given that the Arab region is likely to be among the parts of the world most impacted by climate change, we hope, with the support of all of us, that the UAE wins its nomination to host Cop28 in 2023.”

The Arab League's support follows a similar endorsement from the GCC earlier this year.

In June, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, said the UAE was a strong contender to host the summit in two years' time.

The UAE's bid to host Cop28 focuses on the economic case for climate action and underscores the country’s long-standing commitment to investing in renewables and low-carbon technology, both domestically and around the world.

The UAE put climate action at the centre of its economic growth and diversification strategy 15 years ago. In the intervening period, the Emirates has built three of the largest and lowest cost solar plants in the world.

It is also the first country in the Middle East to operate zero carbon nuclear power and the first country in the Middle East and North African to use carbon capture, utilisation and storage technology to decarbonise heavy industry.

To date, the UAE has invested around $16.8bn in renewable energy ventures across 70 countries.


Updated: September 09, 2021, 6:08 PM