Ahead of COP28, addressing the Bonn Climate Change Conference in Germany, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-designate, emphasized the need to scale up renewable energy and phase down fossil fuels. He stressed the importance of ensuring energy security before the transformational shift. 

The conference at Bonn will lay the roadmap for further discussions at COP28, which will be held in Dubai later this year. 

“The phase-down of fossil fuels is inevitable. The speed at which this happens depends on how quickly we can phase up zero-carbon alternatives while ensuring energy security, accessibility, and affordability. That is why COP28 calls for a global goal to triple renewable energy, double energy efficiency, and double clean hydrogen, all by 2030,” he said.

He further reminded global leaders that at COP26 parties had agreed to finance for climate adaptation, and COP27 was noted for implementing the Loss and Damage Fund. It was imperative to fulfill these two mandates at COP28. 

“I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work with everyone … and I fundamentally believe that if we work together, we can make history together. COP28 is a milestone opportunity for the world to come together, course correct, and drive progress.”

COP28 will be the first Global Stocktake on the progress of the 2015 Paris Agreement. 

“We already know we are way off track,” he said. “We have just seven years to achieve the 43% emission cuts needed to keep the Paris ambition of 1.5°C within reach. As we have learned from experience, the more progress we make in Bonn, the higher the likelihood of success in December.”