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COP28 UAE Puts Health at Centre of Climate Talks

Dr. Al Jaber stressed the importance of addressing the crucial connection between climate change and health….reports Asian Lite News

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, has vowed that COP28 will drive international action on climate and health, with the first-ever Health Day and climate-health ministerial at a COP acting as a ground-breaking opportunity to determine steps towards equitable, climate-resilient health systems and mobilise vital investment in the sector.

Speaking against the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week, alongside Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of Malawi, Dr. Al Jaber called on the international community to support the day and ministerial, which will be co-hosted with the WHO and several countries.

Dr. Al Jaber stressed the importance of addressing the crucial connection between climate change and health. He said, “The connection between health and climate change is evident, yet it has not been a specific focus of the COP process — until now. This must change.”

He continued, “As we prepare for the groundbreaking Health Day at COP28, we are resolute in our determination to address the challenges posed to health by climate change and encourage ambitious investment in the health sector. Our goal is to build resilient, equitable health systems capable of withstanding the impact of climate change.”

He went on to thank the country champions, Brazil, the UK, the USA, the Netherlands, Kenya, Fiji, India, Egypt, Sierra Leone, and Germany for their work to lead the climate health discussions at COP28.

During his remarks, Dr. Al Jaber highlighted the risks climate change poses to human health, including shifting disease patterns, expanding vectors, and the resurgence of previously contained diseases.

He noted that WHO statistics reveal that air pollution alone leads to seven million excess deaths annually and that vector-borne diseases, such as Malaria, are expanding their reach due to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities.

Alongside this growing threat, the COP28 Health Day – scheduled for 3rd December – will also take into account the fragility of public health systems worldwide, as exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the urgent need for transformative changes to adapt these systems in response to climate change.

“COP28 is determined to shine a light on these issues and to bring together partners who can make a positive difference. We are determined to reverse these trends by bringing the world together around an inclusive action agenda centered around a just transition, fairer climate finance and improved lives and livelihoods.” Dr. Al Jaber said.

Finance will also be a priority during COP28’s Health Day. The financial toll of health crises attributed to climate change is estimated to reach between US$2-4 billion annually by 2030, exacerbating poverty, particularly in disadvantaged regions. The World Bank projects that nearly 40 percent of climate-related poverty will result from the direct health impacts of climate change, impacting productivity, income, and health expenses.

In his remarks, Dr. Al Jaber called for increased concessional funds to the Global South to lower risks and attract private capital. He emphasised the need to rebalance finance and called on governments to double adaptation finance by 2025, urging them to contribute generously to replenish the Green Climate Fund.

Dr. Al Jaber also underscored the significance of investing in health as a crucial aspect of climate resilience, emphasising that these expenses should be viewed as investments rather than costs. According to the World Bank, every dollar invested in building climate resilience yields an average benefit of four dollars.

As such, he called on financial institutions, including development banks, to prioritise climate-health investments. Dr. Al Jaber commended the leadership of organisations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund, the Rockefeller Foundation for their commitment to closing the climate-health financing gap at COP28.

During the session, Dr. Al Jaber highlighted the UAE’s legacy and leadership to safeguard human health. He underscored the commitment of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, and President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to prioritise the lives and livelihoods of people.

He highlighted initiatives such as “Reaching the Last Mile”, which, through His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, has committed over US$455 million to improve global health outcomes, with an emphasis on supporting resilient health systems that best serve vulnerable communities.

The UN event, “Looking Forward Towards COP’s First-Ever Day of Health: Advancing A Bold Vision for Action, Equity, and Accountability”, featured prominent figures including Adnan Amin, CEO of COP28; and Dr. Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Health at the WHO. The session was moderated by Vanessa Kerry, WHO’s Special Envoy on Climate Change and Health.

The COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda outlines a science-based, action-oriented plan focused on charting a new course to address the climate crisis. It combines passion with pragmatism and ambition with realism.

Health sits within the part of the Agenda that focuses on people, lives, and livelihoods. This also includes the creation of a Food Declaration aimed at mobilising political commitment to drive positive changes in systems, enhance food security, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, COP28 will feature the first-ever climate-Health Ministerial Declaration and a significant mobilisation of nature-climate finance on a large scale.

The other three focus areas include fast-tracking the energy transition, fixing climate finance, and ensuring a fully inclusive COP28.

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International Climate Summit chief hails India’s climate vision

The Great Barrier Reef.(Photo :greatbarrierreef.org)

India has called for people’s participation and collective efforts in combating climate change…reports Asian Lite News

The Chairman of the International Climate Summit, Dr JP Gupta, on Thursday lauded India’s vision towards climate change mitigation and said India, in its G20 Presidency, has shown a new path.

India gave a new concept to not just ensure the transition from fossil fuels to renewables but also avoid consumption if possible at the same time, he said.

“So far the world is working on the replacement of fossil fuels but Prime Minister Modi added to this a new concept that a change in lifestyle should take place. Change in the use of fossil fuels alone will not help. We have to ensure that while changing fuel from fossils to renewables, we should avoid those energy consumptions that are avoidable,” Chairman Gupta said.

He was talking on the sidelines of the “3rd International Climate Summit 2023” organised by PHDCCI.

India has called for people’s participation and collective efforts in combating climate change. Addressing the World Bank Event on How Behavioral Change Can Tackle Climate Change PM Modi said climate change cannot be fought from conference rooms alone, must be fought at dinner table in every home.

He also said that under Mission LiFE, the government’s efforts are spread across many domains such as making local bodies environment-friendly, saving water, saving energy, reducing waste and e-waste, adopting healthy lifestyles, adopting natural farming, and promoting millets.

A Global call for Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while delivering India’s National Statement, at CoP26, held in Glasgow in October-November, 2021. Subsequently, Mission LiFE was launched by PM Modi on 20 October 2022.

The idea of LiFE promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on ‘mindful and deliberate utilisation’ instead of ‘mindless and wasteful consumption. It is a global effort dedicated to improving human sustainability and environmental protection. It aims to bring positive change in the environment by collective action.

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COP28: Global Business & Philanthropy Leaders to Convene in UAE

Prominent leaders from business and philanthropy will gather at the forum, bringing their expertise and resources to deliver tangible climate and nature solutions globally…reports Asian Lite News

The COP28 Presidency will host the Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum (BPCF) on 1st and 2nd December, held concurrently with the world leaders World Climate Action Summit.

This CEO-level Forum will mobilise global business leaders and philanthropists to progress action in line with the COP28 Presidential Action Agenda to advance cross-sectoral progress around net zero and nature-positive goals.

This first-of-a-kind multi-stakeholder engagement strategy for climate and nature is driven by the UAE’s ambition to host a truly inclusive climate conference that marshals full and broad support with engagement from all world regions.

The forum will converge business and philanthropy leaders and policymakers to ensure co-creation, collaboration, and acceleration to unlock solutions and drive bolder results.

Hosting the forum in parallel with the Heads of State level World Climate Action Summit, the COP28 Presidency is determined to close the gaps between policy and practice and accelerate climate action through cross-sectoral partnerships and collaboration.

Prominent leaders from business and philanthropy will gather at the forum, bringing their expertise and resources to deliver tangible climate and nature solutions globally.

The forum will address key climate priorities related to the COP28 Action Agenda, which includes fast-tracking a just and orderly energy transition, fixing climate finance, putting nature, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action, and underpinning everything with full inclusivity.

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, said, “To disrupt business as usual and fix climate finance, we need action from everyone. We are committed to underpinning everything at COP28 with full inclusivity and we want to bring together key stakeholders to work on collective solutions. That is why I am hosting the Business & Philanthropy Climate Forum to deliver concrete outcomes from the private and philanthropic sectors that can be presented at the highest levels of COP28. Businesses and philanthropists must play leading roles in meeting net zero pathways and delivering sustainable development, and at COP28, they will have a platform to do so.”

The forum will be chaired by the COP28 Special Representative for Business & Philanthropy, Badr Jafar, a businessman and philanthropy advocate, who also serves on the COP28 Advisory Committee.

Jafar said, “The private sector holds the greatest promise to accelerate the accomplishment of our climate and nature global goals, which is why COP28 will ensure business and philanthropy are embraced as critical partners. The Business & Philanthropy Climate Forum provides this enabling platform for action, breaking down silos between sectors and connecting stakeholders from all world regions around game-changing outcomes underpinned by the COP28 Action Agenda. This is what is needed to deliver scalable solutions that can positively transform the lives of billions of people.”

COP28 will see the conclusion of the Global Stocktake, outlining gaps in implementation under the Paris Agreement. The COP28 Action Agenda is purposefully designed to accelerate implementation across the major workstreams. This includes mitigating emissions by tripling clean energy capacities and sectoral decarbonisation. It also includes support to strengthen resilience and boost adaptation efforts by focusing on key sectors impacted by climate change, including health systems, food and water, nature and ecosystems, cities, and relief and recovery.

Aligned with the COP28 Action Agenda, forum attendees will look at targeted solutions for accelerating technology transfer, de-risking green investments, enabling effective investment for nature conservation, developing ‘greenshots’ for large-scale catalytic action, enabling climate SMEs and startups, and investing in resilience for the most vulnerable, amongst other essential private sector outcomes.

The forum is set to engage over 500 CEOs and philanthropists for a 90-minute flagship session on 1st December in the COP28 Blue Zone. Held under the theme of ‘Synergizing Business and Philanthropy: A New Paradigm for Climate & Nature Action’, this session will focus on how best to mobilise the experience and resources of the private sector to deliver meaningful action and unlock greater flows of private financing for the Global South.

The forum will then move to the Green Zone Conference Centre for afternoon sessions on 1st December, under the theme of ‘Business & Philanthropy as Game Changers: Setting the Stage for Action’. Participants will gather for full-day sessions on 2nd December at the Green Zone Conference Center on ‘Forging Pathways to Green Growth’.

The forum will be held at the beginning of the two-week COP28 programme from 30th November to 12th December. The two-week agenda for COP28 was developed in consultation with stakeholders from around the world in a six-week open consultation – the first approach taken by a COP Presidency.

COP28 Special Representative for Business & Philanthropy, Badr Jafar, is CEO of Crescent Enterprises and is actively involved with diverse organisations and initiatives focused on social entrepreneurship, international development, humanitarian aid, strategic philanthropy and corporate governance.

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‘World Losing Race To Secure Climate Goals’

Dr. Al Jaber called on “all parties to unite around a plan of action that is fully inclusive….reports Asian Lite News

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, addressed the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, held in Nairobi, Kenya, where he emphasised the need for mitigation and adaptation finance as critical success factors for climate progress in Africa and globally.

Noting that the world is “losing the race to secure the goals of the Paris Agreement and struggling to keep 1.5 within reach,” Dr. Al Jaber called on “all parties to unite around a plan of action that is fully inclusive, a plan of action that fast tracks a just, responsible and well managed energy transition, focuses on people, lives and livelihoods, and fixes climate finance.”

Al Jaber announced that “The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Etihad Credit Insurance, Masdar and AMEA Power will join with Africa 50 as a strategic partner under the guidance of the UAE and African leadership to develop 15 GW of clean power by 2030. Working together, we will deploy US$4.5 billion that will catalyze at least an additional US$12.5 billion from multilateral, public and private sources.”

“It is our ambition that this will launch a new transformative partnership to jump start a pipeline of bankable clean energy projects,” Al Jaber said.

The President-Delegate explained that the partnership will “demonstrate the commercial case for clean investment” across Africa and “act as a scalable model that can and should be replicated. it is designed to work with Africa, for Africa.”

Al Jaber acknowledged that “Africa contributes just 3 percent of global emissions, yet suffers some of the worst consequences. Droughts, floods and failed harvests have exposed one fifth of Africa’s people to hunger, tripled the number of people displaced in the last three years, and is dragging down Africa’s GDP growth by at least 5 percent every year.

Al Jaber also recognised the scale of energy poverty within Africa, acknowledging that “almost half of Africa’s population still have no access to electricity, almost one billion people lack clean cooking fuels, and this energy gap will only increase as Africa’s population grows.”

Discussing how to fast track low-carbon solutions for Africa’s growing population, Al Jaber said that the “key to making this happen is finance, but it must be made available, accessible and affordable.”

As a part of the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda, Al Jaber emphasised his plan to fix climate finance. He urged donors to “close out the 100-billion-dollar pledge they made over a decade ago and to replenish the green climate fund. In parallel, we need a complete upgrade of the global financial architecture that was built for a different era. IFIs and MDBs must up their game, including by raising concessional capital and lowering debt burdens. They need to attract and leverage private capital at a multiple. And the multilateral, public and private sectors need to mesh together and work as true partners to accelerate the delivery of practical solutions and real, impactful projects on the ground.”

Addressing the imbalance between financing for mitigation and adaptation, Al Jaber called on donors to “double adaptation finance by 2025”, and to “transform the Global Goal on Adaptation from theory and text into tangible action and real results.” We also need early pledges for the loss and damage fund, to help vulnerable countries recover from severe climate impacts that they are already experiencing:

The COP28 President-Designate stated, “What was promised in Sharm El Sheikh, must be fully operational in Dubai.”

During his remarks, Al Jaber also highlighted many of Africa’s trailblazing climate initiatives noting that many African countries are already leading the way. Al Jaber noted how “Kenya is closing in on its goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2030, the African Union’s Great Green Wall is helping reclaim degraded agricultural land across the Sahel. Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative is enhancing food security and stimulating green jobs across the Horn of Africa. And the countries of the Congo Basin are protecting vital rainforests and helping preserve the world’s natural carbon sinks.”

Al Jaber expressed his belief that Africa is “a beacon of hope, filled with potential and a global example of what pro-climate, nature positive development should look like.”

Al Jaber concluded his remarks at the summit by saying that climate change is a “global fight and demands a global solution”. If Africa loses, we all lose, If Africa succeeds, we all succeed. Progress for one is progress for all.

This inaugural Africa Climate Summit was co-hosted by the Republic of Kenya and the African Union Commission, to convene national leaders from across Africa and the world, as well as leading figures from business, policy and civil society: to design and catalyse solutions which address climate change in Africa and across the world.

The summit was attended by global and African leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and President of the African Union President Azali Assoumani.

The full COP28 Presidency team accompanied the COP28 President-Designate to the Summit, taking part in a series of speaking engagements, meetings with national leaders, and community visits to improve collaboration on climate action.

During the visit, Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development and COP28 Youth Climate Champion, visited the Kibera Slum, Africa’s largest urban slum, to meet individuals whose lives are profoundly affected by climate change. Razan Al Mubarak, UN High-Level Climate Champion for COP28, took part in a series of events focusing on nature-based solutions for climate action, investments for nature, and inclusion.

Majid Al Suwaidi, Director-General of COP28, participated in an event to develop solutions for Voluntary Carbon Markets and announced a new “Pact on Fragility”, developed in collaboration with Kenya and Germany, to drive finance to countries experiencing climate change and conflict. Al Suwaidi also visited the Dadaab refugee camp and witnessed the experience of refugees who have fled conflict in Somalia, whose hardships are compounded by prolonged droughts.

Dr. Al Jaber also engaged in bilateral meetings with African leaders, including the presidents of Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, African Development Bank, and several important officials and heads of states. Discussions revolved around mobilising broader support for the COP28 agenda, addressing vulnerability to climate change impacts, seeking critical EU endorsement for COP priorities, garnering support for the hydrogen agenda, accelerating financing for adaptation efforts, and pursuing outcomes related to nature conservation packages, and many other important areas.

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India to Lead Global Green Development Agenda at G20

G20 is a moment where India with its strong presidency can set a chance to seize the demographic dividend and herald its emergence as an economic powerhouse of the future…reports Asian Lite News

Maintaining its edge over Britain as the fifth largest economy of the world, India at the G20 is likely to push for the global green development agreement which will include climate finance, besides Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE), circular economy, accelerating progress on SDGs, energy transitions and energy security, a report by think-tank Strategic Perspectives said on Wednesday.

It compares the performance of five major economies — India, the US, China, the EU and Japan on zero-carbon technologies.

G20 is a moment where India with its strong presidency can set a chance to seize the demographic dividend and herald its emergence as an economic powerhouse of the future.

India will be a $3.7 trillion economy in 2023, maintaining its edge over the UK as the fifth largest economy of the world.

The report, ‘Competing in the new zero-carbon industrial era’, compares the performance of these five major economies on manufacturing, deployment and investment in key decarbonisation technologies like renewables, electric vehicles, as well as the economic transition to net zero for the first time.

The report shows that the net-zero transition policies have significantly strengthened competitiveness, energy security and future economic prosperity. The group of countries includes three largest emitters as well as the host of this years’ G7 and the G20.

The report notes: “Due to the massive scale up of renewables China alone accounts for 55 per cent of the world’s additional renewable energy installed capacity and more than half of electric cars in the world run in China; in the EU wind and solar account for 22 per cent of electricity mix in 2022 surpassing gas at 20 per cent although the energy security crisis has created challenges which must be met by more investments in clean energy; the clean energy win for the US is coming from the Inflation Reduction Act and the country is a leader in innovation and fiercely competitive to China; and despite high potential, Japan is missing out on leadership opportunities towards investment opportunities in the new industrial era.”

While India’s starting position is not comparable to the fiscal space of the other four economies, it stands out in its ability to position itself well in the new industrial era.

The analysis shows a significant potential to grow its importance in the global new industrial transition where it must scale up investments in research and development and not solely rely on technology transfer and Chinese imports.

As an emerging economy, India aims to position itself in the global “net-zero” supply chain.

The report also observes that India still faces a different set of challenges, however, with committed financial support from the developed economies, India can meet its net-zero commitments faster.

The positive developments indicate India is among few countries which are on track to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs target. However, it will need to invest $12.7 trillion to reach net-zero emission by 2050.

India remains one of the fastest growing major economies, especially as China’s post-pandemic recovery has slowed and India has become the fifth largest economy in the world.

India is making progress in incorporating solar and wind into its electricity generation, almost doubling its share from 2017 figures (5 to 9 per cent).

The electric vehicle industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 49 per cent between 2022 and 2030 creating 50 million jobs by 2030.

Pro-transition policies like the Energy Conservation Act are giving the impetus to investors and industry in India.

Regarding international public financial flows, for 2020-21, India was the top recipient for the past two years ($2.9 billion, with 66 per cent for solar energy).

While China and EU continue to lead in the wind sector, the US and India are following each other closely in terms of manufacturing capacities and could continue gaining market shares as their respective domestic policies are implemented.

According to the report, the potential hurdles which can slow down India’s transition include while adopting an “industrial policy” approach to growing the decarbonisation sectors seem to be the preferred approach in general, India appears to favour developing individual sectors rather than a broader, economy-focused plan to expand its industrial base.

Given a starting point with lower financial means, India has much less capital to spend on research and development in absolute and relative terms.

The report says, “It is clear that India cannot be compared on equal footing with the other economies given its different entry position on economic development.”

“As India has strong ambitions to become an integral part of the global net-zero supply chain, the foundations are there for it to benefit from the transition in the near future — if additional investments can be secured.”

Responding to the report, Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends, said, “Coming ahead of the G20, the analysis is a comprehensive assessment of policies and sentiments towards sustainable and zero-carbon technologies.”

“The significant progress in India towards green goals shows commitment to scaling up renewable energy, implementation across several state EV policies, and wins in energy efficiency.”

“As a country which will witness massive industrial growth over the next few decades, it must focus on innovation, research and development, as well as creating an enabling environment that draws in faster investments whilst reducing dependence on China.”

As the G20 presidency it has a responsibility to balance its role to lead this growth and transition agenda amid the tough geopolitics to ensure that it can claim its leadership and be the voice of the Global South, Khosla added.

Vibhuti Garg, Director, South Asia, The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), said, “India is looking at massive requirements of deployment of renewable energy for decarbonisation of not only the power sector but the government has big plans for adding electric vehicles and also promoting green hydrogen as a clean energy solution for transport and other industries.”

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Iraq,Turkey Seek Solutions for Water Share Amid Climate Change Impact

Fidan said that the volume of trade between Iraq and Turkey has reached $25 billion so far this year, but it is “lagging behind the real capabilities”…reports Asian Lite News

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held talks with visiting Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan to discuss outstanding issues between the two countries, including Iraq’s water share and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants based in Iraq.

At a joint press conference after meeting with Fidan, Hussein said on Tuesday that the two sides discussed bilateral relations, including the issue of Iraq’s water share as both countries have been affected by global climate change.

“The main water sources for Iraq’s Tigris and Euphrates rivers come from Turkey, and getting a fair share of water was an important topic of discussion during the meeting,” the Iraqi Foreign Minister added.

Iraq heavily relies on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which originate in Turkey, to fulfill its water needs. But the water levels in the two rivers have declined significantly over the years as a result of drought, the construction of dams, and the diversion of water upstream, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hussein thanked his Turkish counterpart “for presenting the idea of forming a joint committee on the water issue,” saying that the two countries need to take joint actions to combat climate change and drought that threaten Iraq’s economy and agriculture.

He said the strong bilateral trade relations benefit the peoples of both countries, noting that “about 850 Turkish companies are operating in Iraq, most of which work in the field of construction”.

For his part, Fidan said that the volume of trade between Iraq and Turkey has reached $25 billion so far this year, but it is “lagging behind the real capabilities”.

He added that the Turkish government “is closely following the water shortage in Iraq and dealing with the issue from a humanitarian point of view”.

Hussein said the two sides also discussed the issue of resuming Iraq’s oil exports via Turkey.

As for the PKK problem, Fidan said that combatting terrorism was among other issues he discussed with his Iraqi counterpart. 

“Our common enemy, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, should not be allowed to influence our bilateral relations,” he added.

Fidan arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Tuesday afternoon on a two-day official visit. He is scheduled to meet with top Iraqi leaders, including the Iraqi President, Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament, before heading to the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq to meet the Kurdish leaders.

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COP28: Economists chart path for climate finance progress

World-leading economists met with figures from leading global institutions, including the World Bank, IMF, ECF and IFC, the COP28 and COP27 Presidencies and UN Climate Change High-Level Champions…reports Asian Lite News

A two-day meeting of world leading economists and finance leaders convened by the COP28 Presidency has delivered consensus on the key next steps needed to establish a new framework for international climate finance and to drive progress at COP28 and beyond to COP29 and COP30.

World-leading economists from the Independent High-Level Expert Group (IHLEG) met with figures from leading global institutions, including the World Bank, IMF, ECF and IFC, the COP28 and COP27 Presidencies and UN Climate Change High-Level Champions for two days of talks in Abu Dhabi from 15th-16th August.

Those assembled agreed that they will come to COP28 with recommendations on a new framework for international climate finance, as well as a definitive roadmap on how to implement the recommendations.

Particular areas of focus for the new framework will include addressing debt distress in vulnerable countries, and the role of the private sector in delivering increased finance. Here, the group recognised that although private finance flows are growing, they need to grow much faster to meet the US$2.4 trillion total investment estimated to be needed annually by 2030 to address climate change in emerging markets and developing economies.

The roadmap will be designed to guide all institutions – UN agencies, the IMF, WB, regional MDBs, national governments and the private sector – around short and long-term plans to achieve the Paris Agreement. Agreement on the roadmap at COP28 will allow leaders across the public, private and third sectors to drive forward a clear plan of action on international climate finance.

All those in the meetings were unanimous in their agreement that finance is fundamental to enabling the delivery of solutions to enable the transition to a net-zero, climate-resilient future. They also agreed that the primary focus of their work would be to rapidly increase international climate finance between now and the end of the decade to support emerging markets and developing economies mitigation and adaptation initiatives.

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP-28 President-Designate, opened the meetings with a clear call to action for those attending to deliver “a detailed action-oriented framework and tangible recommendations that lead to real results”.

Following the meeting, he commented, “For too long, climate finance has divided the international community and held back progress in tackling climate change and supporting countries most impacted by it. But climate finance is the issue that lies at the core of the COP28 agenda because finance is how we transform goals into reality.

“The time for action is right now. I would like to thank everyone who attended the IHLEG meetings, and for their focus and determination in developing a new framework for climate finance. This new framework needs to be comprehensive. It needs to cover both adaptation and mitigation. And it needs to unlock a supercharged stream of private capital. All forms of finance must be made more available, more accessible, and more affordable. MDBs must be adequately capitalised and provide much more concessional finance to lower risk and bring more private capital to the table. And we need to explore innovative new mechanisms for managing currency risk. I am confident that the assembled experts who have devoted their time to this effort, will find solutions to unlock climate finance.”

Lord Nicholas Stern, co-chair of the IHLEG, said, “These meetings have proved to be very fruitful, in large measure due to the leadership of Dr Sultan and the support from his team. We are all in no doubt of the urgency of the challenges, of the scale of the problems that we must tackle, and of the global action necessary to rise to these challenges. This is a moment where all stakeholders must step up, including the MDBs, their shareholders, and the private sector. We will continue to work with the COP28 Presidency to drive forward in the weeks ahead.”

Dr. Vera Songwe, co-chair of the IHLEG, also noted, “Over the last few months every corner of the world has been hit by a climate event. We must act fast, collectively and at scale to turn these climate disruptions into a growth opportunity for people and planet. The IHLEG group, the COP28 president and all the esteemed colleagues gathered here agree that raising the US$2.4 trillion will not be sufficient if we do not accelerate implementation. I look forward to a COP28 that will deliver impact.”

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary and also in attendance, stated, “The IMF is committed to ensuring climate policy support and finance are reaching those most in need, and I am thankful to the leadership of COP28 for convening this important meeting today. We look forward to partnering with all stakeholders in the lead up to COP28 and working to drive stronger partnerships between the public and private sector for climate success.”

The IHLEG meetings in Abu Dhabi were attended by a host of cross-sector senior leaders and actors in international climate finance including H.H. Sheikha Shamma, President and Chief Executive Officer, UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA); Larry Summers, economist and former US Treasury Secretary; Mark Carney, economist and former governor of the Bank of England; Todd Stern, United States’ chief negotiator at the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement; NK Singh, prominent Indian economist, academician, and policymaker; Tubiana Laurence, CEO of the European Climate Foundation (ECF); Makhtar Diop, managing director of the International Finance Corporation; Rachel Kyte, 14th dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University; Mark Gallogly, investor and climate change activist; Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Egypt; Mahmoud Mohieldin, Climate Champion, COP27; Nigel Topping, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion at COP26; Alain Ebobissé, CEO, Africa50; Harry Boyd-Carpenter, Managing Director Green Economy and Climate Action, EBRD; and Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, CEO, ADGM Registration Authority.

The IHLEG develops and presents policy options and recommendations to enable the public and private investment necessary for delivery of the ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement. Its ultimate goal is to advance a holistic financial framework for resource mobilisation to deliver an equitable and efficient climate finance system, as set out in the Paris Agreement and Glasgow Pact and start its implementation.

The COP28 UAE Presidency has named ‘fixing climate finance’ one of its four priority action pillars for COP28, alongside fast-tracking the energy transition, ensuring full inclusivity, addressing lives and livelihoods.

Enabling the energy transition in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies, as well as supporting countries most impacted by climate change, is fundamental to the COP28 Presidency’s ambition.

Alongside its work with IHLEG, it is working with the G20 High Level expert group on international climate finance and with Germany and Canada to progress the delivery of the US$100-billion commitment. The COP28 presidency is also seeking to make substantial progress on the doubling of adaptation finance by 2025, deliver a strong replenishment of the Green Climate Fund and see agreement on the funding arrangements for loss and damage at COP28.

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UK launches hub to help companies be more sustainable 

The hub provides resources and advice on cost-effective climate initiatives, credible carbon credits, business grants, green loans, sustainability training, reducing waste and sourcing green suppliers…reports Asian Lite News

The Government has launched a new sustainability hub to support Britain’s small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to save on their energy bills and decarbonise.

The UK Business Climate Hub, developed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the National Grid and NatWest, aims to provide support for the estimated 5.5 million SMEs in the UK.

The hub provides resources and advice on cost-effective climate initiatives, credible carbon credits, business grants, green loans, sustainability training, reducing waste and sourcing green suppliers.

It also has a suite of tools like a free carbon calculator to help businesses measure, track and report on their emissions.

It comes as SMEs face significant challenges to decarbonise in line with net zero targets due to fewer resources and less capital to invest compared to large corporates.

According to the FSB, SMEs account for 99.2% of the UK’s total business, three-fifths of the employment and around half of turnover in the UK private sector, which means they are critical to the economy’s progress towards net zero.

Meanwhile, research from the Sage and International Chamber of Commerce found that 90% of SMEs are keen to tackle climate change but find it difficult to know how or where to start to find the right solutions to reduce their carbon footprint.

Business leaders and ministers on the new Net Zero Council are calling on smaller businesses across the country to develop net zero sector roadmaps.

More and more businesses are recognising the business benefits of reaching Net Zero and we’re determined to empower them to do so

The UK Business Climate Hub encourages them to join the SME Climate Commitment – a pledge to halve greenhouse gas emissions before 2030, achieve net zero emissions before 2050 and disclose progress on a yearly basis.

The hub includes advice on green initiatives to help businesses on this pathway, including paying less for electric vehicles, generating green energy and selling it back to the grid, getting low-carbon heat pumps and installing solar panels.

The Government says such measures can also help businesses save on company overheads amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Energy minister Graham Stuart said: “More and more businesses are recognising the business benefits of reaching Net Zero and we’re determined to empower them to do so. The new UK Business Climate Hub is a one-stop-shop for businesses to find practical advice to reduce their carbon footprint and save on their energy bills. Whether it’s fitting a low-carbon heat pump, generating energy with solar panels, or reducing the emissions from shipping goods, the new support will ensure businesses can drive towards Net Zero.”

Martin McTague, national chair of the FSB, said: “We are pleased to have contributed to the new UK Business Climate Hub that will provide businesses with trusted tools and information to help them navigate the net zero transition. SMEs recognise their role in net zero but many still find it challenging to access the relevant support and resources to play their part. This new official platform for advice and support will really help. In addition to helping small firms become more energy and resource efficient, the hub also has the opportunity to empower small firms to take ambitious steps towards net zero, ultimately ensuring that they also benefit from the economic opportunities created in a net zero economy.”

It comes as the Net Zero council, comprising CEOs from leading companies including Co-op, HSBC, Siemens and Cemex, also published a new business roadmap framework on Monday to help businesses to work with others in their sector to create tailored action plans for their own industry to decarbonise.

Shirine Khoury-Haq, co-chair of the council, and chief executive of the Co-op Group, said: “None of us will get to net zero without all of us getting to net zero, so ensuring that every business and every sector has a clear plan for delivering this non-negotiable target is key.

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‘Youth at COP28’ addresses sustainability & climate action

Al Mazrui encouraged young participants to adopt sustainable practices that support climate action efforts….reports Asian Lite News

Ahead of the COP28 climate change conference in November at Expo City Dubai, the Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCY) organised an awareness session entitled “Youth at COP28” as part of its 2023 summer camp activities.

The session was held in collaboration with the COP28 team, the Emirates Youth Council, the Youth Climate Champion team, and the Youth Council of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT).

The session, which was held with the participation of Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development and COP28 Youth Climate Champion, and in the presence of Majid Al Suwaidi, Director-General and Special Representative of COP28, aimed to educate young people about COP28 and their important role in climate action and achieving sustainable development goals. The MCY also announced it will be launching a new youth climate initiative in the coming months.

Attending virtually, Al Mazrui encouraged young participants to adopt sustainable practices that support climate action efforts.

Majid Al Suwaidi elaborated on inclusivity as a foundation of the COP28 Presidency that will enable a collective effort for ambitious outcomes at COP28.

He highlighted the vital role of the Youth Climate Champion to elevate the voices of young people and empower youth-led action, and emphasised that young Emiratis will be crucial in delivering solutions and success at COP28 and future COPs.

Several discussions during the event covered COP28, the Youth Climate Champion Team’s strategy at the conference, and youth involvement in the initiatives of the Federal Youth Authority (FYA).

Additionally, a youth retreat highlighted the initiatives and activities of the youth pavilion in the Green Zone at COP28.

13 higher education institutions join

The Universities Climate Network (UCN), chaired by NYU Abu Dhabi, welcomed 13 additional higher education institutions from the UAE, bringing the total number of participating institutions to 24.

These include the Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, Abu Dhabi University, Ajman University, Al Ain University, American University in Dubai, American University in the Emirates, De Montfort University Dubai, Emirates College for Advanced Education, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, University of Sharjah, Rabdan Academy, University of Birmingham Dubai, and University of Wollongong in Dubai.

The recently launched UCN comprises UAE-based universities and higher education institutions working together to drive engagement among youth and academia in the lead up to COP28 UAE. This includes collaborating on research and innovation for climate solutions, as well as facilitating dialogues, workshops, and public events, among other activities.

COP28 UAE will take place at Expo City Dubai from 30th November to 12th December, 2023. The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors.

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G20 must step up for climate action, says Guterres

“Climate change is here,” he said as the message was brought home to the UN headquarters by New York declaring an extreme heat advisory for the city…reports Arul Louis

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday appealed to G20 leaders who will meet at a summit in New Delhi to act urgently on climate change because its outcome will impact further efforts.

Calling the September summit headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “critical opportunity”, he said: “Particularly G20 countries — responsible for 80 per cent of global emissions – must step up for climate action and climate justice.”

The success of the UN climate change meeting known as the Conference of Parties (COP) in December in Dubai will depend on the outcome of the G20 meeting, he said while speaking to reporters.

“The G20’s success is a basic precondition for the success of the COP, because nobody else can compensate if those members of the G20 do not seriously engage in a dramatic reduction of that emissions,” he said.

While smaller developing countries like the small island countries are trying to cut emissions of greenhouse gases, “They are not the problem; the problem are developed countries and the emerging economies that meet in the G20”, he said.

“Climate change is here,” he said as the message was brought home to the UN headquarters by New York declaring an extreme heat advisory for the city.

“Extreme weather is becoming the new normal,” he warned.

“All countries must respond and protect their people from the searing heat, fatal floods, storms, droughts, and raging fires that result,” he said.

“We must turn a year of burning heat into a year of burning ambition” to fight climate change.

India suffered through an extreme heat wave in the past three months with parts of the country hitting 47 degrees Celsius.

While he attributed 80 per cent of the greenhouse emissions collectively to the G20 nations, Guterres also spoke of the differences among countries, which would apply to countries in the group.

“Those countries on the frontlines — who have done the least to cause the crisis and have the least resources to deal with it — must have the support they need to do so,” he said.

“It is time for a global surge in adaptation investment to save millions of lives from climate carnage,” he added. He said that the developed countries should stand by their commitments to give $100 billion a year to help developing countries deal with climate change and noted that only Germany and Canada have contributed their share.

Guterres, who has launched a war on fossil fuels, called for ending financing of projects using them and said investments should be directed to renewable energy projects. “Many banks, investors and other financial actors continue to reward polluters and incentivise wrecking the planet,” he said.

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