Al-Jaber: We need to support a comprehensive and just transition in the energy sector
Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber: “God blessed us with a leadership that invested the country’s resources in the quality of life and health of its children, and balanced between economic growth and environmental responsibility.”
The appointed President of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Jaber, stressed the need for cooperation and the importance of close partnerships to stimulate climate action that includes all, and achieve its goals, calling for support for a comprehensive, just and gradual transition in the energy sector. Leaves no one behind.
In his speech during the opening of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Al Jaber discussed the rich history of the UAE and the pioneer in overcoming challenges, through the leadership's vision of anticipating the future and preparing for it, and the great progress it has made over 50 years, based on its firm conviction of the importance of true and close partnerships.
Al-Jaber said, "God blessed us with a leadership that invested the nation's resources in the quality of life and health of its children, balanced economic growth with environmental responsibility, and placed climate action at the core of our development strategy."
In his speech, Al-Jaber drew attention to the state's approach to proactive work and its keenness to invest in innovative technologies. He said: "The UAE is a regional pioneer in investing in renewable energy and realizing its importance in the future. Our approach, and before others tend to reduce emissions, we have made sustainability an integral part of our hydrocarbon operations, and we will continue to invest in a clean future energy system, while reducing emissions of energy sources that the world needs today.
He added: «For us in the UAE, sustainable development is not being satisfied with what has been achieved, but rather constantly raising the ceiling of ambition, constantly thinking about the next step, building on the achievements made, concluding new partnerships, staying ahead, and not stopping even for a moment, because the future does not matter. He waits".
Commenting on the current state of international climate action, Al-Jaber said: “Despite the progress the world is making, we need to double the achievement at a much faster pace. We need to support a comprehensive, just and gradual transition in the energy sector that leaves no one behind.”
He affirmed the determination of the presidency of the conference to work according to the vision and guidance of the leadership so that “COP28” is a conference that includes everyone, focuses on practical results, and is keen for the countries of the north and south to listen to each other, to move the world from setting goals to implementing them, especially on “mitigation” issues. And “adaptation” and “losses and damages”, and it allows the international community to make new arrangements and mechanisms for climate financing.
Al-Jaber stressed that reaching climate neutrality will allow achieving the most radical shift in markets and the largest economic development since the first industrial revolution, through a low-emissions path that will lead the world to the goal of achieving large and comprehensive economic growth.
Concluding his speech, Al-Jaber said: “As the UAE prepares to host the Conference of the Parties (COP28) next November, I wonder: Can the world unite to face this decisive moment?
Can the world reduce emissions by half over the next seven years?”, expressing his belief that the answer is “yes.”
He continued, "I have great confidence in the ability of people to progress, and a firm belief in the wise vision of our leadership and its ability to achieve progress, through partnerships, and I also believe that together we can turn the greatest challenge facing us into an exceptional opportunity."
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