The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Republic of Kenya have underlined the significance of strengthening cooperation during the African Climate Summit and the Conference of the Parties (COP28). Both forums present a prime opportunity for the global community to agree on a future path focused on practical solutions.
The statement was made in synchrony with the African Energy Forum in Nairobi, by William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, and His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, the appointed President for COP28. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today and requires ongoing efforts to achieve the highest aspirations in the outcomes of the African Climate Summit and COP28, they highlighted.
The joint statement further reiterated that climate change is one of the most significant challenges of our time. Both the African Climate Summit and COP28 will be critical milestones in a year that will witness a global stocktake to assess progress towards the Paris Agreement’s objectives, providing a valuable opportunity for the international community to converge and agree on a future path focused on practical solutions.
Both sides confirmed their commitment to intensifying cooperation to ensure the success of COP28 and the African Climate Summit in achieving tangible results for the climate and the people of Africa and the world.
President William Ruto lauded the UAE for its steadfast support for sustainable development and climate action, confirming his support for the leadership team for COP28 and welcoming the appointment of Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber as the president of COP28. This will leverage his extensive experience and leadership in the energy sector transition and in supporting efforts to enhance renewable energy sources’ productive capacity worldwide. Both parties affirmed their eagerness to cooperate to reach the highest possible ambition across all pillars of climate action during COP28.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber emphasized the importance of the African Climate Summit as a pivotal moment for Africa and the world in the lead-up to COP28, aiming to expedite a logical, practical, incremental, and fair transition in the energy sector. He applauded Kenya’s efforts and President Ruto’s leadership in climate action.
Both parties announced an agreement between COP28 and Kenya to collaborate and combine efforts to triple the global productive capacity for renewable energy by 2030, recognizing that this collective goal requires a global effort to hasten a fair transition in the energy sector that leaves no one behind. They called on all parties, in all regions, to join them in these endeavors and collaborate in mobilizing global efforts for action and achievement.
Both parties confirmed that Africa can play a leading role in this transition and reap enormous benefits for the region and the world. Africa houses one of the most significant natural carbon storages on Earth, has largely untapped potential for hydropower generation along the Congo and Nile rivers, geothermal energy along the Great Rift Valley, and solar energy across the continent. It is also home to the current and next generation of climate action leaders, entrepreneurs, project owners, and civil society, who will contribute to solutions that can bring about a significant shift in climate action and leverage clean energy to boost economic growth, enhance the quality of life, and improve livelihoods on a continent where nearly half of its population still lacks electricity.
