COP28 president Dr Sultan Al Jaber has urged governments to “think bigger, [and] act bolder” on national climate plans, at the annual Petersberg Climate Dialogue, an event to prepare for the forthcoming COP29 climate change conference in Azerbaijan later this year.
At the event, which was also attended by German chancellor Olaf Scholz, president Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and a number of climate and foreign affairs ministers, Al Jaber pointed to the UAE Consensus as a landmark for climate ambition.
“Together, we set a clear pathway for the energy transition, backed by the science, and focused on the north star of 1.5,” he commented, adding that the agreement was achieved “against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, proving that multilateralism still works and that unity can overcome polarisation”.
COP Presidencies Troika
The COP Presidencies Troika, aimed at fostering continuity between COP28, COP29, and COP30 and advancing the implementation of the UAE Consensus, is urging governments to elevate their ambition in their upcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), according to Al Jaber.
He emphasised the importance of governments outlining comprehensive emission reduction strategies across their economies and developing well-funded national adaptation plans to safeguard nature and revolutionise food systems.
Investment priorities
Elsewhere, Al Jaber advocated for ‘smart policies’ to encourage the private-sector to invest, highlighting four key investment priorities: infrastructure, technology, people, and the Global South.
He highlighted the necessity for a significant investment of at least US$6 trillion in infrastructure to achieve the 2030 target of 11 terawatts of renewable energy capacity, emphasising the importance of allocating a “similar level of investment” to upgrade or establish energy grids, particularly in developing nations where infrastructure may be outdated or lacking.
Artificial intelligence “can be a gamechanger” by multiplying efficiencies and helping to solve the intermittency challenges posed by renewables, he said, adding that it could also help to minimise water usage.
“The faster we apply AI across energy and water intensive sectors, the faster its benefits can be scaled,” he noted.
The energy transition will occur gradually and at varying speeds across different regions, he added. highlighting the importance of ensuring a just, equitable, and responsible transition.
[File photo: COP28 President-Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber addressing the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Addis Ababa in August 2023 (PRNewsfoto/COP28)]
