DUBAI: Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, affirmed that the post-COP28 agenda revolves around multi-level climate action, engaging the entire community including national and local governments, companies, and non-profit institutions.
She highlighted initiatives such as expanding the scope of the “Climate Action to Halt Biodiversity Loss” initiative, which targets companies and financial institutions, securing commitments from over 200 entities worldwide, showcasing increased private sector participation in climate action. She emphasised the vision of ensuring continued collaboration and commitment to achieving our collective goals for a fair, resilient, and sustainable future for all.
Razan Khalifa stated, on the sidelines of the 2024 World Governments Summit in Dubai, that the historic ‘UAE Consensus’ garnered consent from 198 parties worldwide, setting new standards for global climate action and pre
senting an ambitious response to the global stocktake results of the Paris Agreement to help avoid exceeding a 1.5°C temperature increase.
Additionally, it includes, for the first time in climate action history, a provision calling for an organised, responsible, fair, and logical transition to a fossil-free energy system, aiming for climate neutrality and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The agreement mandates countries to halt deforestation by 2030, recognising the vital role of forests in biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
She added that this agreement not only calls for forest preservation but also encompasses a broader and more comprehensive approach emphasising the importance of nature-based solutions and alignment with international policies such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for protecting 30 percent of marine and terrestrial areas. This framework is an integral part of the ‘UAE Consensus’, thus representing a comprehensive strategy working towards in
tegrating climate action and nature conservation.
Regarding the importance of enhancing financial mobilisation for nature-related projects and its impact on global climate action, Razan Al Mubarak stated that mobilising over $2.7 billion for nature conservation projects at COP28 reflects a significant increase in political will to prioritise nature in climate action. Leaders from forest-rich countries across Asia, Africa, and South America presented unprecedented investment plans to implement the Paris Agreement alongside the new global biodiversity framework. This directed funding for forest, ocean, and coastal ecosystem conservation could provide up to 30 percent of the required mitigation measures to limit temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C by 2030.
She added that the UAE’s pledge and allocation of $100 million to forest conservation in Indonesia, South America, and Africa, in addition to initial financial resources for Ghana, demonstrates its commitment to this cause. This signifies the beginning of
greater efforts and underscores the continuous need for massive investments in nature conservation to bridge the financing gap and effectively address both the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.
Regarding the importance of indigenous peoples’ participation in COP28 and the impact it will have on future climate policies, Al Mubarak stated that indigenous peoples, comprising 5 percent of the world’s population, protect over 80 percent of global biodiversity. During COP28, attention was drawn to the contributions of indigenous peoples through the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion, high-level dialogues with major climate groups, Indigenous Peoples Day, and the launch of the Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative. This emphasises their crucial role in overseeing and managing nature resources, highlighting the need to direct funding directly to indigenous peoples to fulfill this vital role. It’s important to maintain this momentum to ensure fairness in resource distribution and incorporate indigenous knowledge and pers
pectives into climate solutions.
Razan Al Mubarak emphasised the importance of women’s participation in climate action at COP28, acknowledging their vulnerability to climate change and leadership in advocating for climate-friendly policies. The conference focused on empowering women and girls to contribute effectively, with 78 countries signing the COP28 Gender-Responsive Just Transitions and Climate Action Partnership. This aims to increase support for women’s leadership in climate action and decision-making, ensuring equal opportunities and addressing challenges faced by women. The conference highlighted the need for gender-sensitive approaches in fulfilling climate commitments, emphasising the importance of women’s experiences and solutions in our global response to the climate crisis.
Razan Al Mubarak highlighted the focus of COP28 on enhancing cooperation between national and local governments, leading to the launch of the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action
initiative. Endorsed by 71 countries, this initiative aims to develop a comprehensive approach to renewing climate action strategies, impacting a large segment of the world’s population. It will play a pivotal role in aligning local and national governments to implement complementary climate actions, directly responding to the needs and priorities of local communities in line with the Paris Agreement.
She said that the UAE has showcased its commitment to leading the climate transition at both local and global levels through initiatives such as the “UAE Urban Environment Plan” and the ‘Utility Alliance to Support Climate Neutrality (UNEZA).’ These efforts reflect ambitious steps taken by development companies to achieve national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
Additionally, the appointment of Nigar Arpadarai as UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29 Azerbaijan signifies a collaborative effort to enhance non-governmental stakeholder ambition an
d build on the achievements of COP28, with a focus on nature, inclusivity, and multi-level climate action.
Razan Al Mubarak emphasised the power of collective action and the need for a comprehensive approach that involves everyone in climate action, calling for continued collaboration to build a sustainable and resilient future. She stressed that collective commitment to climate action is crucial for achieving a better future for all.
Source: Emirates News Agency