UAE’s Commitment at COP30: Driving Global Climate Action
Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, played a vital role in the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) held in Belém, Brazil. At this significant event, she highlighted the UAE’s dedication to enhancing global climate initiatives, fostering innovative financing solutions, and building inclusive international collaborations.
A Strong Global Presence
During her address, Dr. Al Dahak emphasized the UAE’s prominent position within the COP Presidencies Troika, reiterating the nation’s unwavering support for Brazil as it leads the COP30 presidency. She articulated the UAE’s commitment to working collaboratively with its partners to implement ambitious climate strategies established during previous conferences in Dubai and Baku.
Dr. Al Dahak stated, “We aim to ensure that the ambitious pathway shaped in Dubai through the historic UAE Consensus, and strengthened further in Baku, continues to influence decisions here in Belém, laying the groundwork for lasting climate action.”
Commitment to Climate Neutrality
Dr. Al Dahak reaffirmed the UAE’s goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, underlining the country’s proactive stance in global climate efforts. “We are on course to triple our renewable energy capacity while fostering complete transparency in emissions reporting to support global climate objectives,” she stated. The minister further stressed that protecting nature and biodiversity must go hand-in-hand with climate action. This ethos is exemplified in the UAE’s National Biodiversity Strategy 2031, which aims to enhance protections for both terrestrial and marine environments, alongside efforts to increase the population of endangered species.
Remarkably, the UAE is halfway to its target of planting 100 million mangroves. By establishing international partnerships, such as the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) with Indonesia, the UAE underscores its commitment to environmental stewardship—a principle recently reinforced during the hosting of the IUCN World Conservation Congress.
Navigating Key Climate Priorities
Dr. Al Dahak urged global leaders to align their objectives around three critical priorities: enhancing ambitions through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), promoting effective climate adaptation, and expanding innovative financial mechanisms for climate funding. She introduced the ALTÉRRA fund, which the UAE established with a pledge of $30 billion at COP28, emphasizing the importance of sustainable water solutions through initiatives like the Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative. Furthermore, Dr. Al Dahak highlighted the UAE’s role in global water security efforts, serving as a co-host for the United Nations Water Conference in 2026 alongside Senegal.
Leading Sustainable Cooling Initiatives
At COP30, Dr. Al Dahak actively participated in the Ministerial Roundtable on the Global Cooling Pledge. She welcomed the rapid progression of the pledge from a commitment to actionable steps, now with support from 72 countries. The minister noted the establishment of the Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling (IGCC) and the activation of the EPIC Facility, vital for financial and technical assistance. “Sustainable cooling has been integrated into our NDCs, with collective global action in this sector projected to reduce emissions by up to 78 billion tons by 2050,” she asserted.
Engaging in High-Level Dialogues
In parallel, HE Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, participated in various high-level sessions during COP30. At the ministerial meeting focused on Urbanization and Climate Change, Al Nuaimi showcased the UAE’s unique approach, which balances national ambition with innovation through extensive collaboration between government and private sectors.
He noted, “This collaborative framework, driven by the UAE Council for Climate Action, translates national strategies like the Net Zero 2050 Strategy into tangible city-level actions, addressing local realities while propelling progress toward our national targets.”
During the closing plenary session, Al Nuaimi highlighted the necessity of translating climate ambition into coordinated actions across society, reinforcing the UAE’s model of collaboration that integrates national and local priorities.
Advocating for Forest Conservation
Al Nuaimi also attended a discussion at the Indonesia Pavilion centered around conserving tropical forests, essential for mitigating climate change. He stressed the importance of forests as “the lungs of the Earth,” vital for carbon absorption and maintaining ecosystem balance. The UAE’s commitment to forest protection globally is crucial for achieving net-zero targets and preserving planetary ecosystems.
Focus on Adaptation and Green Economy
HE Dr. Alanoud Alhaj, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of Green Development and Climate Change at MOCCAE, engaged actively in three crucial sessions regarding adaptation, just transition, and the green economy. Her insights during the Adaptation dialogue reiterated the UAE’s leadership in making adaptation a priority through frameworks established at previous conferences.
Dr. Alhaj highlighted the critical cost of insufficient adaptation, cautioning that inaction could lead to losses of up to 22% of global GDP. She showcased the UAE’s efforts in identifying investment gaps through the Adaptation Finance Capacity Assessment (AFCA) and emphasized the ALTÉRRA Fund’s role in attracting private sector investments.
In discussions regarding Just Transition, Dr. Alhaj advocated for a Global Just Transition Toolkit to link countries’ needs with financial support mechanisms. She presented the UAE’s Net Zero Strategy as an economic diversification roadmap featuring 25 initiatives across six sectors, asserting that a successful transition must align with national priorities while encouraging economic growth.
Through a panel with the World Green Economy Organization, she emphasized ongoing advancements in the UAE Green Agenda and regulatory frameworks, including legislation aimed at reducing climate change impacts. Moreover, Dr. Alhaj drew attention to the recently launched National Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system, vital for ensuring reliable climate data and enhancing transparency in emissions tracking.
