The United Arab Emirates Ambassador to India, Abd al-Nasr al-Shaali, is optimistic about the ongoing COP28 climate summit in Dubai, emphasizing the proactive approach of the UAE.
Key Priorities and Major Developments at COP28
Many announcements have been made so far at the massive climate summit, including the agreement on the loss and damage fund, to which the UAE contributed $100 million. There are also several other announcements signed by many countries. The Agriculture and Food Charter has been signed by over 130 countries. The Climate Health Charter was signed by 120 countries. 50 companies signed the decarbonization charter for oil and gas, and India has supported the Climate Financing Charter with 13 countries so far.
Climate Financing: Progress Made at COP28, But Is It Enough?
As mentioned, the Climate Financing Charter has been signed by 13 countries so far. Based on the figures we have seen, significant progress has been made on the loss and damage fund, which has been a topic of discussion for a long time. More funds will flow into various initiatives and projects launched during the COP28 presidency. What we will do as the UAE is follow up on the outcomes from the presidency and ensure that it maintains momentum in future COP presidencies as well.
The UAE’s Impact on the Summit
We are making things happen. This is something the UAE is known for. Therefore, we are not only making big announcements or targeting big initiatives that we wish to work on, but we are actually ensuring that we can deliver noticeable results that everyone can feel, and that everyone can say they have felt these impacts. We can see things changing; we can see things moving. I think having 50 companies sign the decarbonization framework for oil and gas speaks volumes. The UAE has been a leader in this area. Because if we look back to the time before the COP28 presidency, one of the main criticisms was how an oil-producing and exporting country could lead nations and the world in terms of climate and be the presidency of COP28. And I believe that by achieving such a milestone, we have proven that this does not undermine it and that we can be one and ensure that all countries can reach some sort of agreement with those multiple announcements regarding the path to mitigating climate risks.
The Indian Prime Minister’s Participation in the Summit
Al-Shaali expressed his country’s support for the Indian Prime Minister’s participation in the climate summit, noting that it is “a testament to the relationship between the two countries,” especially with the cooperation of both countries in hosting the Global Green Credit Initiative. He also expressed his country’s support for India’s attempt to host COP33 in 2028.
The full interview can be found here.
The UAE’s Plan to Shape Global Dialogue on Climate Change
If you just look at what has been achieved so far in the COP28 presidency, having the highest level of youth engagement, being the largest COP28 summit in all metrics, and the fact that governments and countries have come out with pledges and commitments for all types of initiatives and all kinds of announcements is indeed proof that there is a way to persuade everyone to agree on certain issues. And there is a way to progress in mitigating climate risks and ensuring that we are planning for climate change and that we are adjusting our national goals to ensure that we can accommodate that and that we can actually achieve those goals.
The Rise of the UAE as a Regional and Global Power
We are not only looking at bilateral relations, but we are also looking at multilateral platforms and even smaller multilateral platforms. We have been active in all these platforms. But I think that in recent years, we have seen this level of activity becoming more apparent, with a large number of heads of government, presidents, and prime ministers coming to the UAE and participating in COP28. The UAE is also making its own official visits and so forth. What you see now perhaps becomes more apparent, but the UAE has been active in all that I’ve mentioned for a long time.
Future
The relationship between India and the UAE
What’s next is always a question for the leaders, and as I mentioned to you, whenever they sit down and talk, they discuss different topics and various issues. There are always new ideas brought to the table to be pursued by me and by my colleague in Abu Dhabi. The truth is that it seems to everyone that we have achieved a lot in this relationship, especially after signing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. But the way we see it from the UAE, and I believe also from my Indian colleagues, is that there is always more to be done. And there is certainly more that will be done.
What is this thing that needs to be done? What are these new ideas this time? We also saw you in the picture meeting with the Prime Minister as he was leaving. Is there a conversation or story you would like to share with us?
I was personally asked to send greetings to the President and used the words “please convey my regards to my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and that he had a very successful and beautiful visit.
And I told him that he shouldn’t expect less whenever he visits the UAE.
We have seen many times the Indian Prime Minister specifically using the word brother, and your leader had also made an exception so he could speak first at the COP Summit. These initiatives show how the relationship is moving forward.
The future of the relationship between India and the UAE
What’s next is always a question for the leaders, and as I mentioned to you, whenever they sit down and talk, they discuss different topics and various issues. There are always new ideas brought to the table to be pursued by me and by my colleague in Abu Dhabi. The truth is that it seems to everyone that we have achieved a lot in this relationship, especially after signing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. But the way we see it from the UAE, and I believe also from my Indian colleagues, is that there is always more to be done. And there is certainly more that will be done.
What is this thing that needs to be done? What are these new ideas this time? We also saw you in the picture meeting with the Prime Minister as he was leaving. Is there a conversation or story you would like to share with us?
I was personally asked to send greetings to the President and used the words “please convey my regards to my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and that he had a very successful and beautiful visit.
And I told him that he shouldn’t expect less whenever he visits the UAE.
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