COP28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber has urged nations to “unite, act and deliver” at next month’s COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, calling for further progress on the ambitions set out in the UAE Consensus. In an address at the opening of the Pre-COP talks, Dr Al Jaber described the UAE Consensus as the “road back to Paris,” emphasising the importance of building on the achievements of last year’s COP28 in Dubai.
Speaking to ministers and negotiators gathered in Baku, Dr Al Jaber said the UAE Consensus offers a crucial roadmap for fulfilling the Paris Agreement’s goals. “As we gather against a backdrop of continuing geopolitical conflict, let us again find common cause across every pillar of the climate agenda. What we delivered in Dubai, let us build on in Baku. Let us once again unite, act and deliver.”
Pre-COP, which is taking place this week, serves as a preparatory meeting ahead of COP29 in November, with finance set to be a key focus area. Dr Al Jaber emphasised that finance was central to the UAE Consensus, particularly through the introduction of a ‘triple A’ framework to make funds more available, accessible, and affordable.
He highlighted the forthcoming adoption of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance, which is set to be finalised at COP29. “The NCQG must provide the means to implement the UAE Consensus, and the quantum we agree on should match the scale of the challenge,” he said. Dr Al Jaber also stressed the importance of ensuring that financial support reaches the most vulnerable nations, helping them build resilience and recover from the effects of climate change.
The UAE Consensus, adopted at COP28, aims to provide a comprehensive framework for climate resilience, covering sectors such as agriculture, water management, and disaster preparedness. Dr Al Jaber urged all nations to adopt fully funded National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to meet these targets, noting the need for increased adaptation finance.
The COP28 President also pressed for swift resolution of negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which addresses the development of international carbon markets. “We need robust, high-integrity carbon markets that drive investments in both mitigation and adaptation – and we need them now,” he told delegates.
On mitigation efforts, Dr Al Jaber reiterated the need for nations to meet commitments made at COP28, particularly in relation to renewable energy targets. The COP28 Consensus sets out a goal to triple global renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements by the end of the decade.
Dr Al Jaber cited analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which shows that achieving these goals could fulfil two-thirds of the Paris Agreement’s targets. A recent IEA report indicated that the world is on track to add over 5,500GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, nearly three times the amount added between 2017 and 2023. However, he noted that meeting these targets would require tripling annual investments in renewable energy to $1.5 trillion.
As the world prepares for COP29, Dr Al Jaber emphasised the need for all nations to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by February. These contributions must cover all greenhouse gases and align with the agreements made in Dubai to keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target within reach.