Video: Record turnout for ‘Pre-COP’ event in UAE bolsters climate pledges ahead of COP28

Video: Record turnout for ‘Pre-COP’ event in UAE bolsters climate pledges ahead of COP28

Abu Dhabi: Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President, addressed a record number of ministers and delegations from around the world at the opening session of Pre-COP, declaring that the international community needs to unite on climate action and that “we have to come through. We must unite. We must act. And we must deliver in Dubai”.

Pre-COP, taking place today and tomorrow in Abu Dhabi, is a preparatory meeting of ministers and negotiators ahead of COP28. This year’s event has seen record attendance, with 70 ministers and over 100 delegations coming together in the UAE capital, more than double the normal number of participants for a Pre-COP.

Acknowledging that “there are too many things out there dividing our world at this moment”, the COP28 President declared: “Now more than ever we need to unite on climate and deliver a clear message of hope, solidary, stability and prosperity. We need to show that the international community can deliver and send a clear signal that keeps 1.5 within reach.”

Al Jaber pointed out that before the Paris Agreement, the world was heading for more than four degrees of warming but is now on course for warming