Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice-President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced that the UAE has won the bid for hosting the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023.
“We will do our best to make the conference a success. The United Arab Emirates will continue to work on global climate change measures to protect the planet,” Sheikh Mohammed, tweeted.
It will be the second time in as many years that the annual talks will be held in the Middle East, with Egypt set to host them in 2022, and the third time the talks are hosted by a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Former OPEC member Qatar hosted in 2012 and Indonesia in 2007.
Last day, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) official confirmed that the UAE will be hosting the conference in 2023, after receiving unanimous approval from the Asia Pacific Group of nations during COP26, where nearly 200 countries have gathered to take concerted action to cap global greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change.
The road to COP28 is a testament to the positive climate action initiated by the UAE over the past 30 years. The UAE was the first country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to ratify the Paris Agreement and commit to lowering its carbon emissions.
“Hosting this global gathering gives us a great opportunity to bring young people, the most dynamic segment of our society, to meetings and negotiations, ultimately guaranteeing a sustainable future for the next generation. Will be done,” Ms. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, tweeted.
The decision to host COP28 in the UAE is the result of the vision of its leadership and the commitment of its founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to sustainable development. It is a direct reflection of the nation’s decades-long commitment to progressive climate action, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, said.
