The UAE's Bid to Attend COP28

The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place in 2023 in the United Arab Emirates. It will follow COP27 in Egypt in the final months of 2022. There are expected to be over 80,000 delegates attending the conference. Several nations have expressed their support for UAE's bid.

In January, the UAE announced that Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and special envoy for climate change, would be the president of COP28. Climate campaigners have criticised the appointment, claiming that Al Jaber's position with the oil industry puts him in a conflict of interest. They also argue that the Gulf energy producers need to commit to a more realistic and actionable transition away from fossil fuels.

The Gulf state has been making efforts to diversify its economy and fix its reputation in the environmental field. This includes its commitment to being carbon neutral by 2050. However, some analysts believe that the UAE is trying to maximize its profits before it commits to renewables.

Dr Sultan al-Jaber's role is key to the intergovernmental negotiations between nations and will be pivotal to the UAE's ability to deliver its climate change goals. His appointment was confirmed by delegates at the start of the talks. During the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland, the UAE received unanimous endorsement from a group of Asia-Pacific nations.

Al Jaber was appointed as a climate envoy for the UAE after a series of consultations were held with the UK and Egypt. He has played a key role in the development of Emirati energy policy.

At COP28, he will be the focal point of discussions focusing on the economic case for climate action. UAE has said it has a strong sense of urgency and will approach the climate change conference with the highest ambitions possible. COP28 will be held in Dubai Expo City. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Environment and Climate Change for the UAE, has said the country will seek to expand youth participation in the COP proceedings.

In addition to the government, the UAE has also engaged a number of lobbying agencies and public relations firms. One of the main objectives of the conference will be to determine who will fund the loss and damage fund that was set up at COP27. Another goal of the COP28 is to highlight the importance of oceans and other ecosystems.

Cop28 is expected to take place over 13 days in 2023. According to the UAE, COP28 is a time for all countries to work together to address the challenges of climate change. A "ratchet mechanism" will be used to accelerate the impact reduction efforts of all nations. During the ratchet process, countries revise their targets for emissions reductions at every COP.

As the host of the next COP, the UAE has an important role to play. It must limit the use of fossil fuels and show that it has the resources and the ability to support a real and sustainable transition away from fossil fuels. Ultimately, COP28 should demonstrate the UAE's commitment to achieving its environmental goals and promoting a sustainable and inclusive climate action agenda.