Today, at the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial opening session, COP28 President HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber addressed global climate leaders and ministers, highlighting the role of the COP Presidencies Troika in driving ambition in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The Presidencies Troika, agreed to in the UAE Consensus, is a first-of-its-kind partnership that aims to enhance continuity between COP28, COP29, and COP30 and drive implementation of the UAE Consensus.
In a segment titled ‘Presenting the Troika Vision,’ HE Dr. Al Jaber was joined by COP29 President Designate Mukhtar Babayev and André Corrêado Lago, Secretary for Climate, Energy and Environment for COP30 host Brazil.
There, HE Dr. Al Jaber called the UAE Consensus a “victory” for multilateralism and said that the next round of NDCs represent “a critical tool for correcting course” on climate action.
“Parties must do the work now to ensure that their NDCs meet the urgency of the moment – and are submitted at least nine months before COP30,” HE Dr. Al Jaber told delegates, noting that NDCs should be economy-wide and cover all greenhouse gases – including methane.
He added that countries should put policies in place to deliver emission reductions of 60 per cent compared to 2019 levels, before 2035.
Further, the COP28 President called for attendees to “follow the science” and ensure energy transition pathways are “just, orderly and responsible.”
It was shared that ahead of the meeting, the COP Presidencies Troika issued a letter to Parties, highlighting their commitment to “advocate strongly for early submissions of high ambition NDCs that decisively take forward the UAE Consensus.”
Also in the letter was the commitment from the three Presidencies’ host countries to submit 1.5°C aligned NDCs, guided by the UAE Consensus, by early 2025.
Likewise, a letter from the Troika was submitted to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to “ensure there is a unified, coherent, and effective technical support framework to member states, particularly developing countries, to prepare and implement the next generation of their NDCs.”
HE Dr. Al Jaber said: “At COP28 collectively, we changed the mindset that views climate action as a burden to one that sees it as an opportunity to stimulate new industries, leverage new technologies, including the transformative power of AI, create new jobs and drive sustainable growth.”
The need to make efforts across the climate agenda was also emphasised, with efforts to reduce emissions matched by equally strong action on adaptation.
It was outlined that Parties should design comprehensive National Adaptation Plans that cover food systems, water security, nature, and health, focus on peoples’ lives and livelihoods, and “critically” be well funded.
“Finance is the key enabler to all climate progress and essential to rebuilding trust, especially with the Global South,” the COP28 President said.
HE Dr. Al Jaber said that a “trust-building breakthrough” was delivered on Loss and Damage, and called on all Parties who can make “a substantial contribution” to the Fund.
“COP28 advanced the conversation around a comprehensive redesign of the international financial system to align finance flows with climate goals,” HE Dr. Al Jaber said.
“We now need to move from conversation to implementation. Climate finance must be made more available, accessible and affordable at every level.”
An open invitation was extended to all Parties to attend the UAE Climate Finance Forum in Abu Dhabi in June, which HE Dr. Al Jaber said will work towards realising “a climate finance architecture that unlocks the trillions needed for transformational green growth.”