BAKU: Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, delivered the UAE’s National Statement at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, reaffirming the country’s commitment to promoting multilateral collective action and inclusivity in realising the world’s climate goals. In the presence of Heads of States, Presidents, and representatives of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Dr. Al Dahak highlighted the UAE’s significant role in hosting COP28 last year in Dubai and its historic outcomes.
According to Emirates News Agency, Dr. Al Dahak expressed the UAE’s confidence that COP29 will achieve great success, resulting in a more sustainable future for future generations and the planet. She emphasised the significance of COP28 as the most inclusive conference hosted to date and noted that it marked the first ‘Global Stocktake’ of the world’s efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Dr. Al Dahak further highlighted the adoption of the historic
‘UAE Consensus’ during COP28, which brought together 198 parties to endorse a practical roadmap for a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition.
Dr. Al Dahak also underscored COP28’s role in activating the essential Loss and Damage Fund and other key achievements that paved the way towards greater global climate action. She stated that the UAE continues to build on COP28’s successes by implementing ambitious initiatives that leverage innovation and technology, such as the ‘Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative’, which aims to address the global water scarcity crisis.
The minister highlighted the UAE’s collaboration with Senegal for the UN 2026 Water Conference and its commitment to working closely with Azerbaijan and Brazil as part of the COP Presidencies Troika. This partnership aims to strengthen unified efforts, accelerate global energy transformation, enhance climate financing, and advance adaptation and resilience.
Dr. Al Dahak emphasised the UAE’s substantial progress toward achieving Net Zero by 2
050, citing efforts to triple renewable energy capacity, double energy efficiency by 2030, and invest $55 billion (AED 200 billion) to meet growing energy demands. She noted the UAE’s success in establishing the International Day of Renewable Energy in collaboration with the United Nations and Panama.
The minister highlighted the importance of technology in accelerating climate action, citing the UAE’s use of green hydrogen in iron and steel production as part of its National Hydrogen Strategy 2050. This initiative, conducted by Masdar and Emirates Steel, aims to position the UAE as a leading producer and exporter of low-emission hydrogen by 2031.
During COP29 negotiations, Dr. Al Dahak stated the UAE’s priority in establishing an ambitious climate finance goal, the New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG), to ensure affordable and accessible financing for the Global South. The UAE also aims to finalise the activation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to facilitate effective climate action.
Dr. Al Dahak c
oncluded by reaffirming the UAE’s commitment to advancing balanced outcomes across all key areas of COP29, including mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, just transition, water, technology, and enhancing the engagement of women and youth. She emphasised that climate action should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a burden.
