More than 100 officials to represent UAE at Cop 22

Representatives from government, private sector and academia are attending the 22nd annual Conference of Parties in Marrakech, which is running until November 18.

ABU DHABI // A delegation of more than 100 officials and 30 students is in Morocco to represent the UAE at the UN climate talks.

Representatives from government, the private sector and academia are attending the 22nd annual Conference of Parties in Marrakech, which will run until November 18.

The delegation has joined representatives from 190 nations at Cop 22 in the talks to implement last year’s Cop 21 agreement. The original treaty was signed in Paris in December when 196 parties, including the UAE, pledged policies to tackle climate change.

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the UAE was well positioned to take part in the conference’s decision making, through reviewing countries’ climate actions, developing technology and financing.

“The UAE is a big believer in engaging civil society and businesses to find durable and meaningful solutions to climate change,” he said.

To meet its climate change target by 2021, the UAE aims to obtain 27 per cent of its energy needs from clean sources such as solar and nuclear power, build energy-efficient infrastructure such as light rail and metro systems and implement strict green building codes.

The UAE has also pledged to double its investment in clean energy research and development while backing overseas renewable energy aid and supporting international commercial renewable energy projects.

The delegation includes officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, National Centre of Meteorology & Seismology, General Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Dubai Carbon, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, Masdar and Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.