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Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum says he will back global talks on climate change and use oil profits to feed the poorest
Dubai ruler says UAE to host COP28 climate conference in 2023
The hereditary ruler of Dubai has committed to hosting a major climate conference in 2023, saying he would use oil profits to help feed the world’s poorest.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, said it was time to act on climate change after only 18 months had passed since the Paris climate agreement came into force.
“This marks an historic turning point in our sustainability-focused journey and is a necessary step to achieving sustainable development and economic growth,” he said in a statement.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said talks to try to put flesh on the Paris agreement’s major provisions had faltered.
Members of the wealthy Group of Seven industrialised nations clashed at the start of a two-day summit in Italy on Thursday over how much richer and richer countries should contribute to an international fund to help developing nations cope with climate change.
The UAE’s engagement has been the first international sign of a GCC member country.
The UNFCCC is deeply involved in the process with participation by countries from about 190 countries, including the UAE.
In December 2016, more than 190 countries reached an agreement in Paris to limit global warming to “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels while striving for 1.5C, seen as the most preferable goal for the world.
The Paris accord is aimed at combating the threat of extreme global warming by keeping global temperature increases to “well below” 2C and pursuing efforts to limit them to 1.5C, with the aim of limiting the rise to 1.5C.
The UAE ranked 97th in the world in terms of renewables capacity among 113 countries surveyed by consultancy SustainAbility in 2016.
The country is making progress, however, with an all-renewable electricity grid and has agreed to phase out fossil fuels by 2050 in a country known for its oil wealth.
The country also has ambitions to be a major international hub for renewable energy development and aims to be the best-prepared nation for climate change.