ABU DHABI // The UAE’s delegation has arrived at United Nations climate talks in Morocco determined to follow up on the hard work that went into last year’s ground-breaking accord in Paris.
A high-level delegation, led by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, is in Marrakech for the 22nd annual Conference of Parties in Marrakech – informally known as Cop 22 – which will run until Friday.
“Our participation in Cop 22, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has a special importance,” said Mr Al Tayer, who is also the managing director and chief executive of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority,
“We will show the UAE’s support for the international community’s efforts to enhance sustainability and the green economy, while limiting the increasing effects of climate change.”
The UAE's participation in the talks is faithful to the vision of the President, Sheikh Khalifa, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to improve sustainable development and support international efforts, he said.
The UAE played an important role in the negotiations that resulted in the Paris Agreement in 2015, and the Dubai Declaration in October which set a target of global leadership and announced a fund worth Dh100 billion to realise green projects at home and overseas.
The delegation has joined representatives from 190 nations at Cop 22 to implement last year’s Cop 21 agreement. The treaty was signed in Paris in December when 196 parties, including the UAE, pledged policies to tackle climate change.
“Through Cop 22, we are continuing our efforts to highlight our means of dealing with climate change, through leading clean and renewable energy projects and initiatives,” Mr Al Tayer said.
To meet its climate change target by 2021, the UAE aims to obtain 27 per cent of its energy needs from clean sources such as solar and nuclear power, build energy-efficient infrastructure such as light rail and metro systems and implement strict green building codes.
The UAE has also pledged to double its investment in clean energy research and development while backing overseas renewable energy aid and supporting international commercial renewable energy projects.
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