Dubai: The UAE’s main programming focus for Day Ten at COP29 centred on built environment, gender, humanitarianism and the role of lives and livelihoods. The first session, with the Alliance for Gender Responsive Climate Finance, was introduced by Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion at COP28. She explained how gender and climate are intrinsically linked – ‘climate impact is not gender neutral; we need to ensure we empower women on the frontlines of climate change, making sure they are co-designing the solutions required to combat climate change.’
According to Emirates News Agency, former President of Ireland, member of The Elders and longtime campaigner for women’s rights, Mary Robinson, emphasized that gender responsive climate policy will expedite progress. She highlighted the pivotal role women at the grassroots level play in accelerating the transition and making a difference. The session underscored the importance of increased access to climate finance and enhanced gender equality in
building the climate-resilient economy of the future, with contributions from leaders across international organisations, governments, civil society, and philanthropic foundations.
The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), in collaboration with Spotnik Technologies, presented the UAE 3D Digital Twin aimed at improving livability and sustainability in cities. Naseibah Abdulla Almarzooqi, Director of Studies Research and Development and Chief Innovation Officer at MoEI, described it as a single platform to inform urban decision-making while centralising information in one place. Aditya Ramakrishnan of Spotnik remarked that this is the first urban digital twin platform covering an entire country, a digital replica of UAE infrastructure, including buildings and transportation assets at the local and federal levels, using AI to visualize the impact of livability and sustainability initiatives.
Further sessions included Redefining Mobility in a Planetary Urban Sprawl led by Al Futtaim and Innovating t
he Future: UAE’s Path to Sustainable, Circular, and Cognitive Cities. Pooja Ganatra, Senior Consultant in Sustainability at Buro Happold, described the circular economy as a transformative approach aimed at decoupling economic growth from the consumption of finite resources. Masdar’s Master Plan was highlighted for its success in recycling over 9 million plastics, giving them another purpose and social value.
The integration of climate action with foreign policy was addressed in Strengthening Climate Action in Countries Affected by Armed Conflict: A Way Forward, introduced by Sheikha Dr. Moza bint Tahnoun Al Nahyan of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussion noted how humanitarian responses have accounted for 35 percent of UAE development aid over the last decade. Dragana Kojic, Head of the ICRC Delegation to Azerbaijan, endorsed the declaration adopted at COP28 for recognizing the importance of climate action in conflict settings.
The day concluded with Culture for Climate: Linking National and
International Climate Policy presented by the UAE Ministry of Culture, which considered the cultural dimensions to enhancing climate action. The Integrated Model for Building Future Schools with MoEI explored progress and infrastructure efforts across the UAE. Lastly, MoEI, in collaboration with First Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, and Dubai Islamic Bank, presented the National Green Home Loans Program, promoting sustainable construction through affordable financing and eco-friendly building practices.
