COP28: Sustainable communities at the heart of climate action

Over 70,000 delegates are convening at COP28 in Dubai, making this annual climate summit one of the largest since the first COP was held in Berlin in 1995. The first Global Stocktake (GST) at the event will provide a comprehensive assessment of progress since the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015 at COP21, where more than 190 countries agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, but preferably to 1.5 degrees.

Thanks to the efforts by countries like UAE, there’s a remarkable progress being made toward keeping the net zero ambitions alive. Since its inception in 1971, the UAE has actively supported the global climate agenda and has long viewed climate change as a challenge to be overcome. Besides being the first country in the Mena region to announce a target of net zero by 2050, and one of the first countries in the region that ratified the Paris Agreement, the country has made remarkable progress toward climate action not just at home but also in other parts of the world. For example, the country supports green infrastructure and clean energy projects worldwide, and has invested in renewable energy ventures worth around 16.8 billion USD in 70 countries with a focus on developing nations. It has also provided more than 400 million USD in aid and soft loans for clean energy projects.

Developing sustainable cities and fostering communities that are not only aware of climate challenges but also actively participate in efforts toward climate action is one of the best ways to realize a sustainable world, especially in urban settings. This is particularly relevant to countries in the Mena region, home to some of the hottest and most water-scarce countries globally, making their flora, fauna, and human biota more vulnerable to climate change-induced issues. Given the pivotal importance of this subject, it is also among the focus areas at COP28, where experts discuss about decarbonization and the path to creating net-zero cities.

In line with these efforts, “Green and Sustainable Communities” was also the topic for the recently held COP28 Changemakers Majlis by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. It focused on innovations and challenges linked to designing, building, and championing greener, more sustainable communities in the UAE.

As part of its efforts toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, the UAE has been creating an enabling environment for innovation in different sectors, including the construction sector, where various measures have been taken to reduce emissions associated with it. They include developing sustainable communities and providing eco-friendly housing solutions.

Source - Khaleej Times