Countries in the southern hemisphere are right when they argue that
the post-industrialized countries of the North should take the responsibility
for the CO2 emissions that are endangering the planet and all species of life
on it.
اضافة اعلان
Major culprits
include the US, China, the EU, Russia, India, Japan, Canada, Brazil, South
Korea, Indonesia and Iran.
Amidst the
non-ending debate regarding climate, the approach taken by the UAE and Egypt is
the wisest. The latter is slated to host the UN Climate Change Conference 2022,
better known as Cop27, in November, while the UAE will host next year’s global
meeting.
The two countries
met last month to coordinate the shared task. Following a meeting with Egyptian
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced
Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change Sultan Al Jaber said “we had a
positive discussion on common priorities and cooperation toward a successful
Cop27 in Sharm El Sheikh”.
Despite the fact
that the UAE and Egypt are not major contributors to the harmful emissions,
both have taken a progressive stand based on the fact that climate change is a
reality, a danger, and a formidable challenge for all.
Cooperation, common interest, and the fact that each state has its points of strength, should make Arab countries, maybe through a strategy drawn up and overseen by the Arab League, join ranks with the UAE and Egypt to first help address the global challenge of CO2 emissions and then work out solutions at the pan-Arab level to rise up to climate threats, especially the food and water security challenges, and change the game to their benefit.
Within this
context, the UAE has donated around $1 billion to 40 countries among the most
vulnerable to climate change to carry out projects toward easing its impact.
The UAE has also dedicated over $17 billion in clean energy investments around
the world.
Jaber has recently
warned that climate change is a threat to world peace, and the one and only
approach to that is cooperation. Knowing this, Abu Dhabi partnered with
Washington in launching a joint initiative “to drive rapid and transformative
climate action in the agriculture sector”, which aims to “boost investment in
science and innovation to ensure the sector contributes to solving the climate
crisis”, according to The National, a daily published in Abu Dhabi.
Mobilizing more
than $4 billion for projects, the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate
has attracted more than 30 countries to join the unprecedented campaign. The
concept and its application in the UAE offer a true example of how challenges
are turned into opportunities.
The UAE has set an
example for countries challenged with climate change, food security, and water
scarcity to plan for remedies and apply solutions that might tip the scales in
favor of their peoples and future generations.
Cooperation, common
interest, and the fact that each state has its points of strength, should make
Arab countries, maybe through a strategy drawn up and overseen by the Arab
League, join ranks with the UAE and Egypt to first help address the global
challenge of CO2 emissions and then work out solutions at the pan-Arab level to
rise up to climate threats, especially the food and water security challenges,
and change the game to their benefit.
The writer is a former advisor at the Royal Hashemite
Court, a former director of media and communication at the Office of His
Majesty King Abdullah, and works currently as a senior advisor for business
development at Al-Ghad and Jordan News.
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