On November 11, 2021, during the COP26 in Glasgow, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) officially announced that the UAE would host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, said the UAE is looking "forward to the opportunity of uniting the world in an effort to raise ambitions for climate action and to advance progress for humanity". Even though some believe the choice of the UAE could appear counterintuitive because of its production of oil, with the renewed agenda of "climate action", the UAE has become a strong candidate to succeed Glasgow (COP26) and Sharm-El-Sheik (COP27 in 2022).
A National Endeavor
Top Emirati officials teamed up to promote the UAE's application to host the COP26. Under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, was appointed president of the COP28 in January 2023 and played an instrumental role in coordinating with the business community, especially with him being the Director of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, also played a vital role, as well as the most prominent female ministers: Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, who is well known for her support for developing countries, and Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, and Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
Before even COP26, the UAE was able to achieve impressive change in its environmental agenda. The UAE was not only the first country in the region to have signed and ratified the Paris Agreement but was also the first country in the MENA region to commit to reducing gas emissions. The UAE then upgraded its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UNFCCC in 2015. The new NDC presented in December 2020 insisted on reducing GHG by 23.5% by 2030 (70 Mt) in all sectors – energy, transport, industry, services, agriculture and waste. The plan also included planting 30 million mangroves by the same deadline. A month before COP26, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the current Presiden of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi, announced the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, the first country in the Middle East to work towards a carbon-free economy. At the inception of the COP26, H.H. Sheikh Abdulla pointed out that the UAE "has acted with foresight in tackling climate change. The nation has shown unwavering commitment towards investment projects aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate challenges".
The Turning Point
On November 2, 2021, the UAE launched two innovative projects in the Scottish capital, the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) and the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) platform.
The AIM for Climate is an international partnership. With the financial support of the United States, 30 governments and 80 other partners from all continents joined the $4 billion initiative. Researchers in environmental issues have demonstrated that agriculture has been responsible for at least one-fourth of greenhouse gas emissions. With its experience of food security innovations in what has been coined as climate-smart agriculture, the federation pledged to invest $1 billion in the project over the next five years. AIM for Climate intends to contribute to two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Number 2, the eradication of hunger by 2030 and Number 17, the partnership between stakeholders. States remain the major players associated with NGOs, academic researchers or the private sector to modernize agriculture.
The following day, on November 3, 2021, the UAE and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) announced the launch of the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) platform. The core idea is to provide reliable, low-cost renewable energy for small and medium businesses and industries in developing countries. The energy transition requires investments. Through a co-financing system, ETAF needs a minimum of $1 billion in funding. The UAE, specifically the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), committed $400 million out of the $1 billion total funding required. By 2030, ETAF intends to enlarge its operations to $3 billion. With these two projects, the UAE delegation clarified that the federation wanted to offer practical and "inclusive" solutions to mitigate climate change.
A week later, on November 10, 2021, a day before the attribution of the next COP was announced, Dr Sultan Al Jaber delivered an "open invitation from the UAE to the world for partnership solutions that will tackle climate change and create sustainable economic growth with positive social impact". All elements of the discourse, the major projects announced a week earlier, had been put in place to highlight the "UAE's expertise in climate action". On November 11, 2021, the UNFCCC officially announced that the UAE will host the 28th COP. Officials soberly expressed their gratitude and awareness that the event goes hand in hand with immense responsibility. For the UAE, COP 28 is, beyond any doubt, a milestone that will, again, showcase how it vital role in the international arena.
Worldwide Support
The UAE officially applied to host COP28 in May 2021 and received the tacit support of the United States. John Kerry, Obama's secretary of State from 2013 to 2017, visited the UAE on June 14, 2021. The special presidential envoy for climate wanted to sustain the dialogue that started at the Leaders' Summit in Climate held in Washington in April. Dr Sultan Al Jaber was his main interlocutor. John Kerry emphasized the close collaboration between the US and the UAE. He praised their shared approach to climate policies, nationally and internationally. The UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology responded similarly. The US and the UAE present the same "commitment to transform climate action into an opportunity for economic development and diversification". The two special envoys for the COP in Glasgow laid the foundation for the AIM for Climate. John Kerry asserted how he "personally" support the UAE's candidacy at the COP26. John Kerry and Dr Sultan Al Jaber met in London in July to finalize the Agriculture Innovation Mission, which would be launched in Scotland. The official announcement on November 2, 2021, was a strong signal that the US supported the UAE.
The UAE also had support as well from major industries. Soon after the conclusion of the Glasgow conference, Abu Dhabi welcomed the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). Dr Sultan Al Jaber communicated with "global energy leaders", mainly heads of oil companies, to underline the Emirates' commitment to invest in "carbon-efficient oil and gas" and to reassure the industry that it is encouraged to adapt and not to stop. For the opening ceremony of ADIPEC, he reaffirmed the federation's green efforts: the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) already produces low-carbon crude oil and has diversified its portfolio into other carbon-related domains like fertilizers. He also emphasized hydrogen, the promising energy of the future. The UAE is well-positioned to become one the leading producers and exporters of blue hydrogen, a low-carbon fuel which is supposed to be more environmental-friendly than oil and gas. The CEO of ADNOC reiterated: "(…) The solutions will be found where the energy expertise exists" and concluded that this multi-trillion-dollar business is "good for the climate, good for humanity and good for economic growth. (…) Solutions are both pro-climate and pro-growth".
Dr Sultan Al Jaber also projected multi-sector benefits when he led a panel session titled "Projecting COP Ambitions across COP27 and COP28 and Economic Diversification Priorities Post-pandemic" at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), pointing out that a decarbonized industry is no objective per se: "Net zero, for us, is about new industries, new skills and new jobs. For us, the business of tackling climate change is simply good business". The business community and energy sector leaders needed that kind of reassurance on the stance of the UAE. Thus, while pursuing a sustainable agenda, the UAE will not sacrifice its business-friendly policies. The only way to overcome the contradiction remains to believe in progress, specifically technological progress, that will allow profits and respect for the environment's limited resources and vulnerable climate to coexist.
To conclude, the UAE's strategic plans and aspiring goals paved the way for the country's successful application during COP26. The "climate action" and "environmental diplomacy" were crucial to its success.
