CaribPR Wire

Over 1,500 leaders from technology companies, major industries, finance, government, civil society, and the energy sector convene in Abu Dhabi for UAE Climate Tech.

UAE Climate Tech provides platform to transform, decarbonize and future proof economies.

Power of technology to turn one of the greatest challenges we face today into one of the greatest opportunities for sustainable socio-economic development.

To maintain economic progress, while dramatically reducing emissions and meeting goals of Paris Agreement, we need nothing short of a major course correction.

Need to translate what we agree inside the COP negotiation rooms into practical actions in the real world.

We need breakthrough solutions, and the single most critical source of these solutions is technology.

The potential is there, but the landscape is fragmented and this is simply slowing us down. What is missing is a holistic, unifying ecosystem that brings all the key players together and brings everything under one umbrella.

With the right policies stimulating the right investments, climate technologies could at-least double their contribution to global growth, while removing up to 25 billion tons of carbon emissions annually.

By leveraging climate technologies, we can build a new economic development model based on putting an end to emissions, while breathing new life into economic growth.

Dr. Al Jaber repeats call for the tripling of global renewable energy capacity to 11000 GW by 2030 and double again by 2040.

Renewables not only answer. 5000 cement, steel and aluminum plants in the world make up more than 30 per cent of global emissions and none can run on renewable energy alone.

Hydrogen needs to be scaled up and commercialized to make real impact on energy system.

Most recent IPCC report clearly states that applying carbon capture technologies to heavy emitting industries is a critical enabler in the race to net zero.

Need to keep pushing for breakthroughs in battery storage, expand nuclear and invest in new energies like fusion.

Need to aggressively apply the latest platform technologies such as AI, robotics, and block chain, to increase the efficiency of the energies we use today across every sector.

Technology companies need to focus on food systems and agriculture- the biggest single source of greenhouse gasses, representing over one third of global emissions.

Dr Al Jaber repeats call for the oil and gas industry to zero out methane emissions by 2030 and align around comprehensive net zero plans by or before 2050.

need to phase out emissions from all sectors including transportation, agriculture, heavy industry, and of course fossil fuels, while investing in technologies to phase up all viable zero carbon alternatives.

Need to re-imagine the relationship between producers and consumers.

From one based purely on supply and demand, to a relationship that is focused on co-creating the future.

Critical that as we adopt new technologies, the global south is not left behind. Technology is essential to helping the most vulnerable communities, build capacities and leapfrog into a low carbon economic development model.

Paris Agreement united governments around what the world must do to meet the climate challenge, COP 28 will focus on the “how”.

COP 28 to be a COP of Practical Action and Pragmatic Results, a COP of Solutions, a COP of Impact, and a COP for ALL.

Let’s break down siloed thinking and build up an integrated creative partnership.

Let’s end the finger pointing and point to actions and targets and let’s point to a brighter future.

Together, let’s create a low carbon pathway to a high growth destination, because together is the only way we will get it done.

ABU DHABI, UAE, May 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, today, called for collective climate action from global leaders to transform, decarbonize and future-proof economies.

Dr. Al Jaber was speaking to over one thousand five hundred global policy makers, innovators, and industrial leaders at the UAE CLIMATE TECH conference in Abu Dhabi with a call to accelerate the development and deployment of technological solutions to decarbonize economies and reduce emissions by at least forty-three per cent by 2030 in line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.

In his remarks, he stressed the urgent need for a responsible and pragmatic energy transition that is laser-focused on phasing out fossil fuel emissions while phasing up all viable zero carbon alternatives while ensuring that the Global South is not left behind.

“The science is already telling us that we are way off track. The latest IPCC report has confirmed that the world must reduce emissions forty three percent by 2030, and that’s if we are serious about keeping the ambition of 1.5 alive. At the same time, we know that global energy demand will continue to increase because an additional half a billion people will join us on this planet by 2030.”

“If we are going to maintain economic progress, while dramatically reducing emissions, we need nothing short of a major course correction. We need to translate what we agree inside the COP negotiation rooms into practical actions in the real world. We need to find a way to hold back emissions, not progress. We need breakthrough solutions, and the single most critical source of these solutions is technology.”

Continuing his remarks, Dr. Al Jaber noted that clean tech investments broke the $1 trillion barrier for the first time in 2022, with substantial room for growth.

“I believe this transformation represents the greatest opportunity or human and economic development since the first industrial revolution, and I know we are moving in the right direction.”

“With the right policies stimulating the right investments, climate technologies could at least double their contribution to global growth, while removing up to twenty-five billion tons of carbon emissions annually. By leveraging climate technologies, we can build a new economic development model based on putting an end to emissions, while breathing new life into economic growth.”

Despite the growth of renewable energy, the majority of emissions cannot be solved by renewables alone, particularly in heavy emitting industries.  Dr. Al Jaber noted that there are more than 5,000 cement, steel and aluminum plants in the world today that together make up almost thirty per cent of global emissions and none of them can run on wind or solar alone.

Dr. Al Jaber went on to highlight the critical role of hydrogen and carbon capture in enabling a responsible and pragmatic energy transition.

“Here is where solutions like hydrogen can play a role, but it needs to be scaled up and commercialized to make a real impact in the energy system. If we are serious about curbing industrial emissions, we need to get serious about carbon capture technologies. In any realistic scenario that gets us to net zero, carbon capture technology will have a role to play. Without it, the math just doesn’t add up.”

Dr. Al Jaber emphasized the importance of continuing to invest in nuclear energy, and push for breakthroughs in battery storage, before moving on to the need for cooperation between agriculture and technology to drive down global emissions.

“We should remember that outside of heavy emitting industries, food systems and agriculture are the biggest single source of greenhouse gasses, representing over one third of global emissions. We need technology companies to really focus on this space.  The UAE is emerging as a leader in agri-tech, vertical farming, and the use of digital technologies to reduce energy and water use while increasing crop yields in harsh environments.

“Along with the United States, the UAE has launched AIM for Climate, a fifty-country coalition aimed at maximizing the use of commercial technology to reduce emissions and increase the availability of nutritious food around the world.”

Dr. Al Jaber repeated his call on the oil and gas industry to zero out methane emissions by 2030 and align around comprehensive net zero plans by or before 2050.

“While the world still uses hydrocarbons, we must do everything in our power to reduce and eventually eliminate the carbon intensity of that energy. That’s why I have called on the oil and gas industry to zero out methane emissions by 2030 and align around comprehensive net zero plans by or before 2050. The goal for this industry and all industries is clear.  We need to phase out emissions from all sectors including transportation, agriculture, heavy industry, and of course fossil fuel emissions, while investing in technologies to phase up all viable zero carbon alternatives.”

“For this to happen faster, we need to re-imagine the relationship between producers and consumers. From one based purely on supply and demand, to a relationship that is focused on co-creating the future. We must create an active partnership between the largest producers of energy, the biggest industrial consumers, technology companies, the finance community, government, and civil society. It is an all-of-the-above effort: working together, the goal would be an accelerated, pragmatic, practical and just energy transition that leaves no one behind.”

Dr. Al Jaber noted that maximizing technology adoption in the Global South requires the public, multilateral, and private sectors to supercharge climate finance by enhancing the availability, accessibility and affordability of capital countries that need it most.

“It is critical that as we adopt new technologies, the Global South is not left behind. Last year, developing economies received only twenty per cent of clean tech investments. These economies represent seventy percent of the world’s population – that’s over 5 billion people. Technology is essential to helping the most vulnerable communities build capacities and leapfrog into a low carbon economic development model.”

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Al Jaber noted that time is running out and the stakes for the planet are high. “While the historic Paris Agreement united governments around what the world must do to meet the climate challenge, COP28 will focus on the ‘how’,” Dr. Al Jaber said.

For up to date COP28 news, follow us on Twitter @COP28_UAE

Notes to Editors

COP28 UAE:

• COP28 UAE will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30-December 12, 2023. The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors.
• As mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, COP28 UAE will deliver the first ever Global Stocktake – a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals.
• The UAE will lead a process for all parties to agree upon a clear roadmap to accelerate progress through a pragmatic global energy transition and a “leave no one behind” approach to inclusive climate action.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2073963/COP28_UAE_1.jpg
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2073964/COP28_UAE_2.jpg

• “This year, the year of the Global Stocktake, we have an unprecedented opportunity to turn policies into practical outcomes.”
• “We need tangible progress, this year, on reform that will unlock far more concessional finance, mitigate risk, and attract more private capital.”
• “We must be laser focused on phasing out fossil fuel emissions, while phasing up viable, affordable zero carbon alternatives.”

ABU DHABI, UAE, May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today in a speech at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, the COP28 President-Designate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, presented his broad ambitions for COP28.

Dr. Al Jaber stated: “We have just passed the seven-year mark since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, with just seven years to go to 2030. Seven years to reduce emissions by 43 percent and keep the ambitions of the Paris Agreement alive.”

Dr Al Jaber added that, “the most recent IPCC report has already made it crystal clear that we are way off track. This is a moment of clarity that we must face with total honesty. We must unite and seize the moment of the Global Stocktake to put the world on the right track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.” On renewables, Dr Al Jaber called on the world to “triple capacity by 2030 and double it again by 2040.”

“In my meetings with climate, finance, and development ministers across the Global South, what I hear time and again is that climate finance is nowhere near available, accessible, or affordable enough. IFIs and MDBs are not keeping pace with the challenges of the 21st century.”

“Developing countries are still waiting for the 100 billion dollars promised by developed countries 14 years ago. This is holding up progress, and as part of my outreach, I am requesting donor countries to provide a definitive extraordinary report on the delivery of this commitment by COP28. It is vital to the political credibility of the UNFCCC process, that donors step up to this long overdue obligation ahead of COP28… especially as the real value of this commitment has eroded over time.”

Dr Al Jaber warned that “If the world does not come up with effective mechanisms to deliver climate finance to developing and emerging economies, they will have no choice but to choose a carbon intensive development path. That is an outcome we want to avoid simply because it is in nobody’s interests.”

“In a pragmatic, just and well managed energy transition, we must be laser-focused on phasing out fossil fuel emissions, while phasing up viable, affordable zero carbon alternatives. We know that the energies used today will continue to be part of the global energy mix for the foreseeable future. As such, we will work with the world to decarbonize the current energy system while we build a new one, capable of transitioning even the most heavy-emitting industries.”

He highlighted that “COP28 must also provide tangible solutions to help people adapt to climate change and manage growing climate impacts. That is why we will be the first COP to dedicate a day to health and the first to host a health and climate ministerial.”

“We need to broaden our definition of adaptation to enable global climate resilience, transform food systems, and enhance forestry, land use and water management.”

Dr. Al Jaber concluded by saying, “Let’s put an end to delays and start delivery. Let’s turn passion into pragmatic solutions. Let’s end polarization and empower partnership. There are moments in history when humanity comes together to fight a common threat… Let’s unite in solidarity for the sake of humanity. Let’s live up to the responsibility that we have been entrusted with. Let us restore political credibility to the legal agreements that we have not yet fulfilled. Let’s work together to deliver an ambitious agenda and a practical action-oriented plan for 2030. Let’s unite a divided world for the planet, for our people and for lasting sustainable development. The world demands transformational progress. The world needs transformational action.”

For all media enquiries and requests for interviews, please contact [email protected], to watch the speech live, and for up-to-date COP28 news, follow us on Twitter @COP28_UAE

Notes to Editors:

• The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an annual meeting, hosted by the German Government. It provides a platform between COP27 and COP28 for parties and constituencies to share views on priorities for the next United Nations Climate Conference or Conference of the Parties, more commonly referred to as COP.
• COP28 UAE will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30-December 12, 2023. The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors.
• As mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, COP28 UAE will deliver the first ever Global Stocktake – a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals.
• Since his appointment as President-Designate in January 2022, Dr. Al Jaber and the COP28 Leadership Team have proactively engaged on a Listening and Engagement Tour, where he has heard many voices from the global south, major economies, Indigenous peoples, NGOs, youth, civil society, and the business community.

Click Here for More Information »

Abu Dhabi, 1 May 2023: 2 / 3 May 2023, the Petersberg Climate Dialogue will take place at the Federal Foreign Office, at the invitation of German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, and COP28 President-Designate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber.

Media unable to attend in person are invited to watch and/or listen to the speeches and the press conference LIVESTREAMEDvia link – see details below:

Tuesday, 2 May, 10.30 – 12.00 (CET)

Speeches from the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukray and COP28 President-Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber will be livestreamed.

A live video feed will be provided via the Twitter channels of the Federal Foreign Office in German (@AuswaertigesAmt), English and Arabic (@GermanyDiplo)

Wednesday, 3 May, 13.45 – 14.15 (CET)

Joint press conference by German Federal Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, and COP28 President-Designate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber will be livestreamed.

Languages: German-English (simultaneous interpretation)

A live video feed will be provided via the Twitter channels of the Federal Foreign Office in German (@AuswaertigesAmt) and English (@GermanyDiplo)

-ENDS-

For all media enquiries and requests for interviews, please contact [email protected]

Notes to Editors

COP28 UAE:

• COP28 UAE will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30-December 12, 2023. The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors.
• As mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, COP28 UAE will deliver the first ever Global Stocktake – a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals.
• The UAE will lead a process for all parties to agree upon a clear roadmap to accelerate progress through a pragmatic global energy transition and a “leave no one behind” approach to inclusive climate action.

COP28 President-Designate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, concluded a two-day trip to China, where he held a series of bilateral meetings, including with Ding Xuexiang, First Vice Premier of China; Zhao Chenxin, Vice Chairman of the NDRC; HE Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment; Xie Zhenhua, Special Envoy for Climate Change; and Dr. Zhang Jianhua, Director of the National Energy Administration.

UAE and China to build on strength of strategic relationship to maximize practical, pragmatic climate progress ahead of COP28 to keep 1.5 alive.

Given the size of China’s economy – which will soon be the world’s largest – the country’s potential to promote climate progress is immense.

Over the past five years alone, China has added more than 40% of the world’s new solar and wind power capacity and has set a very ambitious target of deploying 1,200 gigawatts of renewable capacity by or before the end of this decade.

Through a shared commitment to climate action and sustainable economic development, the UAE will work with China to accelerate energy transition ahead of COP28.

UAE and China will align efforts to drive a just and equitable energy transition for the Global South and the world, through South South cooperation, investment and technology transfer.

COP28 President-Designate also met with clean tech entrepreneurs and addressed students at prestigious Tsinghua University Institute for Carbon Neutrality.

Partnerships at government, private sector, academic and civil society levels will be key to making COP28 a COP of Action, and a COP of solidarity, unity and impact .

ABU DHABI, UAE, April 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — COP28 President-Designate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, has concluded a two-day trip to China, where he held a series of bilateral meetings, including with Ding Xuexiang, First Vice Premier of China; Zhao Chenxin, Vice Chairman of the NDRC; HE Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment; Xie Zhenhua, Special Envoy for Climate Change; and Dr. Zhang Jianhua, Director of the National Energy Administration. Dr. Al Jaber also met and addressed students at the prestigious Tsinghua University Institute for Carbon Neutrality, where he highlighted China’s leadership in renewable energy development and highlighted its unique capacity to enhance South-South cooperation on climate action.

Building on the strength of the UAE China strategic partnership, discussions focused on partnerships around practical, concrete efforts in the run up to COP28 for a step change to help achieve transformational climate progress. Given the size of China’s economy, and its leadership position in advancing clean technologies, the country’s potential to promote sustainable low carbon economic growth is immense.

“Given the size of China’s economy and the scale of its development of renewable energy and decarbonization technology, China provides a good model for sustainable economic growth and the global energy transition. Over the past five years alone, China has been responsible for adding more than 40% of the world’s new solar and wind power capacity and has set a very ambitious target of deploying 1,200 gigawatts of renewable capacity by the end of this decade.”

Dr. Al Jaber highlighted that both the UAE and China were committed to diversifying their energy mix and pursuing pragmatic solutions to the climate crisis. He added: “The partnership between the UAE and China will be a key asset to the COP28 Presidency as we seek innovative solutions to boost industrial decarbonization, expand access to clean technologies, and ensure a just energy transition.”

Dr. Al Jaber met with clean tech entrepreneurs in a private sector roundtable and also addressed an audience at the Tsinghua University Institute for Carbon Neutrality, which covers energy, sustainability and climate-related disciplines. With the world needing to reduce global emissions by 43 percent by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement target of limiting the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, countries will need a range of technology solutions to meet their decarbonization goals, the COP28 President-Designate stated.

“We cannot accomplish our climate objectives without significant adoption and development of technology for decarbonization. We need to explore every available option. It is not renewables or hydrogen or nuclear or carbon capture or only using the least carbon intensive oil and gas. It is all of the above, plus new technologies yet to be invented, commercialized and deployed,” he stated.

“As a global leader and valued partner to emerging market economies, China is already making significant contributions to enhance South-South climate action. China’s support will be critical for us to deliver pragmatic, practical action on the road to COP28 and beyond.”

In his meeting with Chinese business and industrial leaders, Dr Al Jaber continued to advocate for investment in industrial decarbonization. He said: “Steel, cement, and aluminium, like energy or manufacturing, are the industries that run the world. We simply cannot stop using them. But we do have to find a way to make them more sustainable. We must reduce emissions, not progress. We have to work with industry leaders to bring them on board as partners, and to source the solutions together.”

Dr. Al Jaber also hailed the strength of the partnership between the UAE and China as a model of cooperation toward sustainable, low carbon growth and prosperity: “Partnerships will be key to making COP28 a COP of Action, and a COP of solidarity, unity and impact. We need China, as we need all countries and Parties, at the table to meet the Paris goal of keeping global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. We need a major course correction and a massive effort to reignite progress. And I look forward to working with China to deliver a successful COP28,” he stated.

Notes to Editors

COP28 UAE:

• COP28 UAE will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30-December 12, 2023. The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors.
• As mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, COP28 UAE will deliver the first ever Global Stocktake – a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals.
• The UAE will lead a process for all parties to agree upon a clear roadmap to accelerate progress through a pragmatic global energy transition and a “leave no one behind” approach to inclusive climate action.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2056955/COP28_China_Visit.jpg