Abdullah bin Zayed chairs COP29 Preparatory Committee to discuss UAE's plans and initiatives.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the UAE’s Participation in COP29, emphasized the significance of monitoring the implementation of the UAE Consensus to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Sheikh Abdullah led the committee's fourth meeting, held remotely, to assess the progress made over the past six months and to discuss the UAE’s participation and action plan for the 29th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29), which is scheduled to be hosted by the Republic of Azerbaijan in November.

Sheikh Abdullah commended the diplomatic efforts made by the working teams following the conclusion of COP28 in December. He noted that COP28 was a historic event where the UAE Consensus and the COP Presidency's action plan provided a successful model for multilateral diplomacy, resulting in a comprehensive negotiation text with practical solutions to mitigate climate change.

He expressed his desire to build on the success of the UAE Consensus and COP28 to enhance the COP29 agenda and global climate efforts.

The committee discussed future plans and initiatives to support the success of COP29, scheduled to take place in Baku this November. They also reviewed the COP28 Presidency’s participation in related events, progress on its action plan, and collaboration with the COP29 team.

The working teams highlighted key points from the COP29 Presidency’s messaging, including raising ambitions, climate finance, empowering climate action, international cooperation, loss and damage, and the action agenda.

The meeting also addressed the UAE’s water-related initiatives, stressing the need to highlight this issue during the country’s participation in Azerbaijan.

Additionally, the committee discussed the pivotal role of the UAE’s national negotiating team at COP29, focusing on enhancing the team’s role in representing the country’s positions.

The UAE’s efforts to submit transparent reports on its climate commitments, in line with its membership in the UNFCCC, were reviewed. This includes the Cabinet's decision to join the Partnership for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC Partnership), a coalition aiming to promote sustainable development and tools for climate adaptation.

The Preparatory Committee for the UAE’s Participation in COP29 includes ministers and officials from various sectors.

During the meeting, committee members outlined their preparations for the UAE’s participation in COP29 to ensure cohesive government efforts across strategic, diplomatic, economic, and technological sectors. This is to ensure the UAE's active role in the conference and reinforce its international climate commitments and legacy from COP28.

At the close of the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah thanked committee members and urged them to continue supporting and guiding efforts to raise ambitions and enhance climate action.