The global climate goals: The US and UAE envoys discussed bilateral collaboration
On Sunday, envoys of the United States and the United Arab Emirates debated new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the battle against climate change, approving to form bilateral groups to accelerate progress toward global climate aims.
According to Emirati state news agency WAM, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber agreed to set up bilateral working groups…to advance their shared agenda, accelerate progress toward global climate goals and contribute to regional and global sustainable development.
WAM also reported that Al Jaber informed Kerry during the virtual conversation that the UAE welcomes the new US administration’s sharpened focus on climate change. Kerry also said that he is looking forward to strong and productive collaboration with the UAE on technology, investment, and regional leadership.
Kerry stated in a tweet: I look forward to strong & productive collaboration on tech, investment, and regional leadership as we work together to ensure global action on deep decarburization.
Indeed, the US President Joe Biden appointed in November Kerry for the presidential climate envoy position, which is the first of its kind in the US. Kerry was before in the position of Secretary of State under President Barak Obama and aided in the mediation of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord.
Furthermore, Biden contracted an executive order on January 20 for the US to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, while the predecessor President Donald Trump withdrew the country from the pact in 2020.
Al Jaber was chosen for the position of UAE Special Envoy for Climate by the government cabinet in November. It’s expected that the two climate envoys would participate in the UN Climate Change Conference later this year.
