Latest news with #Balalaa
Dubai Eye
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
UAE champions climate action, inclusivity at UN talks
The UAE has wrapped up its participation at the UN's 62nd Climate Session in Bonn, Germany, reaffirming its commitment to global climate action and building on the momentum from COP28. Led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Energy and Sustainability, Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, the UAE delegation engaged in key negotiations on climate finance, adaptation, just transition and transparency under the Paris Agreement. The team also contributed to over 25 side events, highlighting initiatives in clean energy, artificial intelligence and climate finance. Balalaa emphasized the UAE's commitment to inclusivity, consensus-building and innovation in climate policy, and underscored the country's role in driving forward outcomes from COP28 through to COP30 in Brazil. The UAE also hosted a cultural event linking heritage to climate resilience and announced plans to co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference with Senegal. Officials say the country remains focused on practical, inclusive solutions to protect vulnerable communities worldwide.
TAG 91.1
03-07-2025
- Politics
- TAG 91.1
UAE champions climate action, inclusivity at UN talks
The UAE has wrapped up its participation at the UN's 62nd Climate Session in Bonn, Germany, reaffirming its commitment to global climate action and building on the momentum from COP28. Led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Energy and Sustainability, Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, the UAE delegation engaged in key negotiations on climate finance, adaptation, just transition and transparency under the Paris Agreement. The team also contributed to over 25 side events, highlighting initiatives in clean energy, artificial intelligence and climate finance. Balalaa emphasized the UAE's commitment to inclusivity, consensus-building and innovation in climate policy, and underscored the country's role in driving forward outcomes from COP28 through to COP30 in Brazil. The UAE also hosted a cultural event linking heritage to climate resilience and announced plans to co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference with Senegal. Officials say the country remains focused on practical, inclusive solutions to protect vulnerable communities worldwide.
Al Etihad
03-07-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE reaffirms climate commitment, support to multilateral work at 62nd Session of Subsidiary Bodies of UNFCCC
3 July 2025 19:36 BONN, GERMANY (WAM)The United Arab Emirates successfully concluded its participation at the 62nd Session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was held in Bonn, UAE delegation was led by the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, who reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to building on the outcomes of COP28 and supporting continued progress ahead of COP30, which will be held in Belém, SB62, the UAE actively engaged in all negotiation paths, including climate finance, the Global Goal on Adaptation, the Just Transition Work Programme, and transparency arrangements under the Paris delegation also participated in more than 25 side events and panel discussions, highlighting the UAE's strategies and initiatives in areas such as clean energy, artificial intelligence, and innovative climate finance solutions. The delegation further showcased the UAE's efforts to strengthen climate innovation, enhance international cooperation, and elevate the role of youth in climate emphasised that the UAE remains committed to supporting the multilateral process and building consensus to deliver practical solutions for climate resilience and sustainable development. His Excellency stressed the critical importance of carrying forward the spirit of inclusivity achieved at COP28. This was reflected in the UAE's constructive engagement in discussions and negotiations and its efforts to help bridge the gap between diverse the session, the UAE's Ministry of Culture organised a cultural event under the Adaptation agenda, showcasing the role of heritage and traditional knowledge in building climate resilience, further underscoring the UAE's comprehensive approach to sustainable ahead, the UAE will continue its role within the COP Troika alongside Azerbaijan and Brazil, aiming to ensure that COP30 delivers ambitious, equitable, and tangible outcomes, particularly on adaptation indicators and just transition frameworks, in line with the UAE to Belém Roadmap and the UAE Just Transition Work the country will strengthen preparations to co-host the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in partnership with Senegal, reflecting its unwavering commitment to climate resilience and water this regard, Balalaa said, 'SB62 represents an important platform to maintain momentum and support convergence on key priorities. We remain committed to working closely with partners to translate ambition into tangible action through inclusive multilateral engagement and shared responsibility.' The UAE continues its diplomatic and pragmatic efforts to enhance global climate action, support international cooperation, and protect the most vulnerable communities from the impact of climate change worldwide.
Gulf Today
18-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
NDCs must serve as national development blueprints: UAE
Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Foreign Minister for Energy and Sustainability, led the United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation to the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial, alongside ministers and climate leaders from around the world, to advance COP28's outputs and set the course towards COP30. Held from May 7-8, the meeting represents an important milestone, marking 10 years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement and the halfway point through the critical decade to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach. Balalaa represented the COP28 Presidency in the Troika High-Level Dialogue on Long-Term Development Planning, co-chaired by the COP28, COP29, and COP30 Presidencies. The session explored how Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can serve as strategic instruments for sustainable development, investment mobilisation, and institutional resilience. 'As the initiators of the Troika Roadmap to Mission 1.5, the UAE firmly believes that NDCs must move beyond pledges. They must serve as national development blueprints – integrating investment, inclusion, and resilience,' said Balalaa during his intervention. On the sidelines of the meeting, Balalaa held several bilateral meetings with key partners, including the Minister of Climate Change of kingdom of Norway, Deputy Danish Minister of Energy, Climate, and Utilities; Denmark's Minister of Environment and Gender Equality. He also held several meetings with CEOs of private sector water & renewable energy companies such as Vestas the pioneer company in wind turbines, Copenhagen infrastructure partners (CIP), and AVK, one of the largest holding company in water solutions. In these engagements, Balalaa reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to leading the implementation of the Baku Climate Unity Pact, which includes initializing the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) and advancing the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). Furthermore, the UAE emphasized its role as a climate finance pioneer, referencing its USD 100 million contributions to both the FRLD and the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Fund, as well as the launch of the $30 billion ALTÉRRA platform to unlock transformational finance and catalyse private sector engagement. In addition, Balalaa highlighted the UAE's commitment to sustainable development through its co-hosting of the United Nations Water Conference 2026 (UNWC) alongside Senegal. This pivotal event will link water security, climate resilience, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The UAE views water action as inseparable from climate action and remains committed to driving global cooperation for a resilient and sustainable future for generations to come. This participation reflects the UAE's ongoing diplomatic efforts to build international support for global climate action, following the signing of the historic 'UAE Consensus,' reached at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), held in Expo City in Dubai in 2023. These endeavors aim to accelerate progress across adaptation, energy transition, and resilience in the lead-up to COP30, which will be held in Belém, Brazil the coming November. Recently, Balalaa led the UAE delegation at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, where he participated at the annual meeting's high-level sessions, alongside the Federal Chancellor of Germany and several ministers. He also held a series of ministerial meetings in Berlin, reaffirming the UAE's commitment to international cooperation across climate action, energy transition, water resource management and sustainable development. During his visit, Balalaa met several prominent German and international officials, including Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action; Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development; Eva Kracht, Director-General for International Affairs at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety; and Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). WAM
Al Etihad
02-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE hosts World Bank's Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Steering Committee Meeting
2 May 2025 18:05 ABU DHABI (WAM)The UAE hosted the World Bank's Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Steering Committee Meeting on April 29-30, 2025 at the Abu Dhabi Energy high-level meeting convened over 40 participants representing 12 countries and more than 25 international organisations, including ministerial delegations, national oil companies, multilateral development banks, and technical experts from across the global climate and energy UAE, as a founding member to the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership and the largest contributor with a $100 million pledge, reaffirmed its global leadership in tackling one of the most potent and short-lived climate pollutants: has over 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide in the short term, making its reduction one of the fastest and most effective ways to slow global warming. GFMR exists to confront this challenge by funding high-impact projects that eliminate routine flaring, and reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations year's Steering Committee Meeting in Abu Dhabi served as both a checkpoint and a launchpad, reviewing the impact of existing interventions while shaping the next generation of financing, governance, and technology Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, and UAE Board Member for GFMR, led the UAE participation, which included senior representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), who championed calls for transparent funding, equitable regional allocations, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as AI-based methane detection and blockchain verification Balalaa underscored the UAE's conviction that methane mitigation is both a climate necessity and an economic opportunity. The UAE is committed to ensuring that the GFMR remains a high-impact, transparent, and future-proof initiative, aligned with the UAE Consensus and the goals of the Paris its part, ADNOC has announced the investment of $23 billion in landmark decarbonisation projects, supported by advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, and is working towards near-zero methane emissions and zero routine flaring by UAE also announced its intent to propose a dedicated High-Impact Methane Regions Program at the next GFMR Steering Committee, aimed at accelerating implementation in underfunded geographies with the highest potential for rapid emissions reductions. This milestone meeting builds on the momentum of the UAE's climate diplomacy leadership, reinforcing its role as a driving force in global methane abatement.
