Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President, at the International Energy Agency in Paris on Tuesday. Left, Jennifer Morgan, German climate envoy, and right, Fatih Birol, the agency's executive director. Photo: Cop28 UAE
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President, at the International Energy Agency in Paris on Tuesday. Left, Jennifer Morgan, German climate envoy, and right, Fatih Birol, the agency's executive director. Photo: Cop28 UAE
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President, at the International Energy Agency in Paris on Tuesday. Left, Jennifer Morgan, German climate envoy, and right, Fatih Birol, the agency's executive director. Photo: Cop28 UAE
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President, at the International Energy Agency in Paris on Tuesday. Left, Jennifer Morgan, German climate envoy, and right, Fatih Birol, the agency's executive director. Photo

World needs 'unprecedented' climate action, says Cop28 President


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Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber has called for “unprecedented” climate action to ensure the historic deal agreed during the summit has a chance to keep global temperatures from exceeding the crucial 1.5ºC threshold.

Speaking at the International Energy Agency in Paris on Tuesday, Dr Al Jaber urged governments, business and industry to step up and keep the deal – under which countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels – alive and not allow the momentum to slip away.

He also cautioned of “turmoil” if the green transition was not managed correctly and stated governments needed to be honest and transparent about the costs involved.

“The UAE Consensus set a new direction and a clear course correction,” said Dr Al Jaber, who is also UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, referring to the Cop28 deal signed by close to 200 countries.

“We must now turn an unprecedented agreement into unprecedented action. Now is the time for all stakeholders to step up.”

It comes as climate records continue to be broken. In February it was reported that global warming had for the first time exceeded 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels across an entire year, according to the EU's climate service.

January was also the world's warmest January on record, with an average temperature of 13.14°C.

Scientists believe major cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, chiefly caused by burning fossil fuels, are the only way to stop global temperatures from increasing and stave off the worst effects of climate change.

Investing in greener future

Dr Al Jaber was speaking at the “Beyond Cop28: Time to unite, act and deliver the UAE consensus” event, which was attended by ministers, ambassadors, industry executives and other leaders, including International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol, Cop21 President Laurent Fabius; Jennifer Morgan, Germany's climate envoy; and John Kerry, the US special presidential envoy for climate.

During the event, the Cop28 President also warned that the energy transition would lead to energy turmoil if only the supply side was focused on.

Dr Al Jaber said the green transition would need “massive investment” in grid infrastructure to deliver renewable energy, while governments needed to be “honest and transparent about the costs and trade-offs involved”.

Mr Kerry also paid tribute to the Cop deal stating Dr Al Jaber did a "superb job" in putting Cop28 together in a situation where "one country can stand up and wreak havoc".

"It’s a brilliant consensus," he said. "A really important consensus."

Ms Morgan praised the Cop28 team and said the world faced its "1974 moment", referring to the date the IEA was founded during the 1973 to 1974 oil crisis.

"This is our moment where we have to come together in a new way, collectively, to respond to the shocks that are happening to our countries from the climate crisis," she said.

Ms Morgan said people needed to "bottle that spirit and the determination of the UAE consensus”.

Mr Fabius said Cop28 was a "gamechanger" and Mr Birol said it "set out very clearly, and for the first time", the direction of travel for the global energy system.

Scaling up climate finance, meanwhile, is seen as crucial in the fight against climate change, particularly in helping those on the front lines switch to more sustainable forms of energy.

Cop28 mobilised $85 billion in new pledges and commitments and launched the world’s largest private investments vehicle for climate action – Alterra.

Dr Al Jaber last year welcomed the announcement that wealthier countries reportedly hit the overdue $100 billion annual climate finance goal but said “trillions” will be needed.

Cop28 also tried to get the oil and gas industry to step up, with 40 per cent of global oil production committing to zero methane emissions by 2030 and net zero by or before 2050.

While describing these targets as “a good start, Dr Al Jaber said “it must be built on. I will continue to push for more”.

Dr Al Jaber’s comments came just days after the Cop28 presidency launched a major partnership with the next two hosts of the climate conference, Azerbaijan and Brazil, to help keep the crucial 1.5ºC climate goal within reach.

The “Cop presidencies troika” aims to boost co-operation and ensure continuity between the hosts of the annual climate talks in what is being called “mission 1.5ºC”.

“Cop28 created a moment of hope in challenging times,” said Dr Al Jaber. “Let’s not waste it. Let’s harness this positive energy to drive breakthrough progress”.

Climate tipping points – in pictures

'Shakuntala Devi'

Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra

Director: Anu Menon

Rating: Three out of five stars

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

War and the virus
THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Updated: February 21, 2024, 10:19 AM`