UAE to host COP28 summit at Expo City Dubai

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) will be held at Expo City Dubai, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced.

#UAEPresident announces #COP28 Climate Summit to be hosted at #DubaiExpoCity#WamNews https://t.co/L9JINzznkJ pic.twitter.com/uYTVCqW6tk

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) June 22, 2022

The exhibition site has already hosted the six-month expo event  – which ran from October 1, 2021 until March 31 this year – and will now transform into a smart city for businesses, driven by sustainability and innovation.

Read: Sheikh Mohammed announces opening of Expo City Dubai in October 2022

The conference is expected to see over 45,000 participants daily, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts and representatives of civil society organisations.

.@ExpoCityDubai to host the #COP28 international climate conference in November 2023. pic.twitter.com/8VeTde87g0

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 22, 2022

The selection of Expo City Dubai as a venue for COP28 builds on the legacy of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, the underlying theme of the Expo 2020 Dubai event.

Read: Over 24 million visits recorded at recently concluded Expo 2020 Dubai

COP28 focuses on key pillars, including the implementation of climate commitments and pledges, inclusion, working together to take action and identifying solutions that contribute to overcoming challenges, and leveraging opportunities to ensure a sustainable future, official news agency WAM reported.

The UAE has taken key initiatives to usher in a cleaner, more sustainable future. Besides housing the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) headquarters, it remains the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement. Last year, it announced a new Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative to reduce carbon emissions and plans for 50 per cent of its energy to come from renewable sources by 2050.

Read: UAE reveals Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative

The UAE operates three of the world’s largest and lowest-cost solar plants and has invested in renewable energy projects in 70 countries. These include more than $1bn in grants and loans to 27 island countries.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was launched in 1992 in Brazil with the conferences being held annually since 1995.

The UAE was chosen to host COP28 in November 2023 at the COP26 conference held in Glasgow last year. Meanwhile, Egypt will host the COP27 event in November this year.

Read: UAE business leaders welcome hosting of COP28 in 2023