The UAE’s participation in the ongoing session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Egypt will set a milestone in its path to climate action, besides affirmation of its pioneering model regionally and globally in facing the challenge of climate change, a senior UAE minister said.
The country also intends to reveal the details for the mechanisms and pathways for implementing its strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality 2050, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, minister of climate change and environment, told WAM in an interview.
“While the current session of the conference focuses on financing and ensuring the fair and equitable participation of developing countries in climate action efforts, the UAE will invite the world to participate in the efforts to spread and use renewable energy by joining the platform for accelerating the energy transition,” Almheiri said.
The UAE, in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA, has launched and allocated an initial investment of $1 billion for promotion of renewable energy, she said.
Almheiri said that the country’s focus at COP27 would be on intensifying efforts to promote climate-smart initiatives to benefit the private sector, through a set of reports and evidence.
“This will enable the private sector to view the most important technologies available to raise operational efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of many activities, while addressing the Green Business Guide and the Green Sukuk and Bonds Guide,” Almheiri said.
The minister said the UAE would be keen to transfer and present its expertise in many areas within environmental and climate work during COP27.
“This includes solutions to enhance the research and development system through the ‘UAE climate change research network’ model, sustainable financing and investment solutions and the expansion of reliance on nature-based solutions,” she added.
On the new steps to enhance food security, Almheiri said that the UAE had achieved success thanks to the country’s leadership’s vision and support in ensuring the availability of food and the continuity of supply chains during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“According to the National Food Security Strategy 2051, we are working to enhance food security through an integrated system that includes more than one axis,” she said.
On the new project in the ‘Food Tech Valley’ to promote reliance on innovative solutions and modern technologies in enhancing food security, she said the project constituted a qualitative step within the UAE’s national endeavour to enhance food security and also develop the agricultural technology sector.
The agricultural technology market is expected to grow from $13.5 billion to $22 billion over the next four years.
Almheiri added that the project area, when completed, will reach 18 million square feet and will provide more than 14,000 job opportunities.
It is expected to attract more than 4,000 visitors and will be home to more than 1,150 residents. Work is underway to complete the necessary infrastructure works for the project, she said.
Follow us on
