UAE Rallies Global Climate Action at COP30
UAE Reaffirms Climate Leadership on the World Stage
In a powerful reaffirmation of its global climate leadership, the UAE made a defining impact at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. Leading the national delegation, Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, underscored the UAE’s commitment to accelerating global climate action, mobilizing innovative climate finance, and advancing nature-based solutions.
Representing the nation within the COP Presidencies Troika, HE Dr. Al Dahak reiterated the UAE’s full support for Brazil’s COP30 Presidency. She emphasized the collective responsibility to carry forward the momentum built through the historic UAE Consensus in Dubai and strengthened in Baku.
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“We firmly believe that protecting nature and biodiversity is inseparable from climate action,” she stated, highlighting the UAE’s path toward climate neutrality by 2050 and its leadership in global renewable energy expansion and transparent emissions reporting.
Nature & Biodiversity: A Cornerstone of UAE Climate Policy
H.E. Dr. Al Dahak spotlighted the UAE’s ambitious National Biodiversity Strategy 2031, which aims to protect land and marine ecosystems while restoring endangered species.
Half of the UAE’s 100-million-mangrove plantation target has already been achieved, a milestone strengthened through global collaborations such as the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) with Indonesia.
This leadership was further highlighted by the UAE’s recent hosting of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, reinforcing nature protection as a central pillar of national and global climate action.
Driving Global Climate Finance & Adaptation Solutions
Calling for unified global action, HE Dr. Al Dahak identified three urgent priorities:
Raising ambition through enhanced NDCs
Advancing tangible climate adaptation
Expanding innovative climate financing mechanisms
She emphasized the role of the UAE’s ALTÉRRA Fund, launched at COP28 with a US$30 billion commitment, as a catalytic instrument to unlock investments in climate-vulnerable regions.
The UAE’s focus on global water security also took center stage, with notable initiatives such as the Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative and preparations to co-host the UN Water Conference 2026 with Senegal.
Global Leadership in Sustainable Cooling
During the Ministerial Roundtable on the Global Cooling Pledge, HE Dr. Al Dahak highlighted rapid progress from commitment to implementation, with 72 countries now onboard.
Key achievements included:
Formation of the Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling (IGCC)
Operationalization of the EPIC Facility to support sustainable cooling projects
She underscored that integrating sustainable cooling into the UAE’s NDCs could contribute to reducing up to 78 billion tons of emissions by 2050.
Urban Climate Action: UAE’s Collaborative Model
HE Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of MOCCAE, represented the UAE in multiple high-level sessions, showcasing the nation’s unique governance model that ensures seamless collaboration between national and city-level climate strategies.
Speaking at the ministerial meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change, he outlined how frameworks like the UAE Council for Climate Action and the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy translate into localized implementation plans, enabling cities to become effective climate partners.
During the Closing Plenary, he reiterated that climate ambition must be matched with coordinated, multilevel action to deliver real impact.
Protecting Tropical Forests & Advancing Nature Action
At the Indonesia Pavilion, H.E. Al Nuaimi highlighted forests as the “lungs of the Earth” and essential to global Net Zero pathways. He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to halting deforestation and supporting global forest conservation efforts.
Adaptation, Just Transition & Green Economy: UAE’s Strategic Contributions
H.E. Dr. Alanoud Alhaj, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of Green Development and Climate Change, led the UAE’s interventions across three key dialogue areas:
Strengthening Global Adaptation
At the Ministerial Dialogue on Adaptation, she emphasized the UAE’s pioneering Global Framework for Climate Adaptation from COP28, warning that lack of adaptation financing could reduce global GDP by up to 22%.
She highlighted the Adaptation Finance Capacity Assessment (AFCA) and the role of ALTÉRRA in de-risking adaptation projects.
Advancing a Just Transition
In the High-Level Roundtable on Just Transition, HE Dr. Alhaj called for a Global Just Transition Toolkit and stronger links between national needs and financing pathways. She showcased the UAE’s Net Zero Strategy, which supports economic diversification across six priority sectors.
Accelerating the Green Economy
In discussions with the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), she outlined the UAE’s regulatory progress, including the landmark Federal Decree-Law on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects, and ongoing air quality improvement efforts.
She placed special emphasis on the newly launched National MRV System, unveiled at GITEX GLOBAL, as a major advancement to enhance transparency and credibility in emissions data and climate progress.
A Defining Moment for UAE Climate Diplomacy
The UAE’s strong presence and thought leadership at COP30 highlighted its unwavering commitment to driving global climate progress through innovation, inclusiveness, and strategic international partnerships.
From climate finance and water security to biodiversity protection and sustainable cooling, the UAE reaffirmed its role as a central architect of global climate solutions—and a nation determined to translate ambition into action.
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