COP28 President-Designate Calls for Action-Oriented Climate Conference in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E — In his first public address as COP28 President-Designate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber outlined a bold and inclusive vision for the upcoming COP28 conference, emphasizing a shift from aspirational goals to actionable, concrete outcomes. Speaking at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Al Jaber committed to transforming COP28 into a “COP of Action” and a “COP for All,” where progress is not just planned but achieved, with a focus on renewable energy expansion, adaptation finance, and supporting the Global South.
Transforming Vision into Reality: The UAE’s Commitment to Climate Action
Dr. Al Jaber highlighted the UAE’s dedication to environmental stewardship as a foundation of its economic diversification and energy transition, underscoring the legacy of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s vision for sustainable development. He described the UAE as a leader in the global shift toward clean energy, noting its achievements as the host country of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), its commitment to the Paris Agreement, and its roadmap to achieving net zero by 2050.
With 70% of the UAE’s economy now generated outside the oil and gas sector, Dr. Al Jaber expressed a commitment to “making today’s energy cleaner while advancing the clean energies of tomorrow.” He added that the UAE has already invested $50 billion in renewable energy projects worldwide, with an additional $50 billion pledged for the coming years.

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, President-Designate of the UNFCC COP28
Action Plan: Renewable Energy, Adaptation Finance, and Global Cooperation
Dr. Al Jaber outlined ambitious targets for COP28, urging a tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and a doubling of adaptation finance for vulnerable regions by 2025. He also advocated for a reform of international financial institutions to make climate finance more accessible and affordable for the Global South, a region that bears the brunt of climate impacts but often lacks adequate resources.
Acknowledging the urgent need to curb emissions, Dr. Al Jaber cited the rapid expansion of wind and solar energy, which grew by 550 gigawatts between 2020 and 2022. He called for further scaling up renewables, hydrogen, carbon capture, and energy efficiency to meet the growing global energy demand, projected to increase by 30% by 2050. Addressing agricultural emissions, Dr. Al Jaber proposed investment in agri-tech and efficient water use to transform food systems, which account for a significant portion of global emissions.
Building Resilience: Adaptation and Loss and Damage Support
For Dr. Al Jaber, resilience is as crucial as mitigation. He stressed the importance of supporting vulnerable communities, especially through nature-based solutions like mangroves that act as carbon sinks while preserving coastlines and ecosystems. He called for adaptation finance to be increased to $40 billion annually by 2025 and urged that every concessional dollar of public funds be matched by two to three dollars of private capital.
On loss and damage, Dr. Al Jaber called for solidarity with nations facing climate-related disasters, pledging to fully operationalize a loss and damage fund to assist these communities. This fund, established during COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, represents a significant step in global efforts to address the effects of climate change on those most affected.
The UAE’s Climate Legacy and Leadership
The UAE’s selection as the host of COP28 is a testament to its established leadership in climate action. As the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement, commit to economy-wide emission reductions, and deploy large-scale solar, nuclear, and carbon capture projects, the UAE has consistently set regional benchmarks in climate progress. Internationally, the UAE has invested $50 billion in renewable energy across 70 countries and partnered with the United States to launch the Partnership to Accelerate Transition to Clean Energy (PACE) in 2022, aiming to catalyze $100 billion in clean energy financing and deploy 100GW of renewable energy by 2035.
COP28, to be held from November 30 to December 12, 2023, at Expo City Dubai, is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, private sector leaders, and climate advocates. With Dr. Al Jaber at the helm, the UAE aims to drive a collective and transformative shift in climate action, ensuring COP28 delivers not just discussions, but decisive, lasting progress in the fight against climate change.
– QANTARA (c) 2024