ISLAMABAD: Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, President-designate of COP 28 and UAE’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, embarked on a visit to Pakistan on Thursday to hold discussions on bilateral matters and address regional and international issues related to climate change. During his visit, Dr. Al Jaber met with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to emphasize the importance of the climate change agenda.
Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the UAE in hosting COP 28 and expressed confidence in Dr. Al Jaber’s leadership of the conference. He commended Pakistan for its efforts in combating the adverse effects of climate change, considering it as one of the most affected countries. In response, Dr. Al Jaber appreciated Pakistan’s dedication and expressed the United Arab Emirates’ keen interest in investing in renewable energy projects within the country. To solidify this commitment, an MOU outlining a roadmap for investment was signed in the presence of the Prime Minister.
Another important meeting took place between Dr. Al Jaber and Senator Sherry Rahman, the Federal Minister for Climate Change. Minister Rahman congratulated the President-designate on the UAE’s upcoming hosting of COP 28 and discussed Pakistan’s concerns regarding global climate change. Both parties explored potential solutions to address the challenges arising from these changes, including the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund established during COP 27 in Sharm-Al-Sheikh last year.
In addition to these engagements, Dr. Al Jaber delivered a speech at the Foreign Service Academy, where he shared his vision for COP 28 as an inclusive and transformative platform to mitigate global climate issues. Furthermore, he met with youth delegates from the COP youth program, recognizing the importance of involving young voices in shaping climate policies.
The visit of the President-designate of COP 28 provided an opportunity for substantive engagement between Pakistan and the UAE on critical issues such as climate change and alternative energy. It is expected to strengthen mutual trust and foster beneficial cooperation between the two nations on the global agenda
