An Interview with Yolando Velasco

Manager of Climate Finance Subdivision, UNFCCC Secretariat

Exclusive Interview with the UN Resident Coordinator for the United Arab Emirates 

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Dr. Dena Assaf, United Nations Resident Coordinator for the United Arab Emirates and Deputy Commissioner General for the UN at Expo2020

Can you please share with us the UN Hub’s success as a key platform of the UN at Expo 2020? 

Together with the UN Country Team (UNCT) for the UAE, and under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator Dr. Dena Assaf, we have been interacting with the public in a variety of engagements at the UN Hub, including exhibits, films, advocacy campaigns, discussions, and other experiences around topics related to the SDGs and beyond. Our physical presence at Expo2020 is highly unique and enables us to reach thousands of visitors of all age groups, backgrounds, and nationalities. We are proud of the engagement opportunities that were enabled through the UN Hub, including several high-level visits from the UAE government, member states, representatives of UN agencies, businesses, students, and youth activists. Through international days and thematic weeks, including the most recent Global Goals Week, the programming of the UN Hub focused on the SDGs and the work of the UN in UAE in accelerating towards the goals through its Country Team.

The UN Hub has hosted numerous events focused on the role of women and youth. In your opinion, what are the barriers to overcome to improve their participation in climate action and how is the UNCT approaching it? 

On a global level, we are witnessing limited awareness on climate action, climate threats, as well as low engagement of youth and women, which affects their effective participation in climate solutions. The UAE UN Country Team has been focusing on implementing SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by shifting from awareness to action. We have been engaging with multiple UN agencies such as UN Women, UNFPA, UNV and OCHA, as well as the private sector, UN Global Compact Networks, and Climate Change Councils for young people to provide their contribution to the climate fight. In this respect, we have worked with advocates such as UNDP’s Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Climate Action Mr. Michael Haddad, organized activities such as the Walk 4 Climate at the Expo UN Hub, and constantly integrating global campaigns in local channels such as UNDP’s Frankie the Dino video to reach youth more effectively.  

The UN Hub is playing an important role in SDGs advocacy at Expo 2020. In this respect, what are the elements which need to be carried over to MENA CW 2022? How do you see the important role of MENACW 2022 to drive climate action in the region? 

There is a need to generate engagement from people from all backgrounds and sectors on the implementation of the SDGs. At the UN Hub, we have engaged with visitors through interactive SDG activities such as trivia games, advocacy materials such as SDG card sets, as well as create communication content and videos with young students and other partners to share insights about a specific goal. The UN Hub SDG Art Exhibit emphasized how engaged content creators and artists can amplify climate awareness. These types of initiatives can be carried over to MENA Climate Week 2022 to amplify climate and awareness messaging. MENA Climate Week has an essential role to play in driving climate action in the region, especially ahead of COP 27 in Egypt, and COP 28 in the UAE. We think it is important to engage with all stakeholders at MENA Climate Week, to share best practices, lessons learned and common challenges through different formats and channels.  

We look forward to working together as UNCT, closely with the UAE government and global community, to deliver the promise of climate action through COP 27 and COP 28.  

@UN_UAE, #UNHub, #UNxExpo) and visit our website (unitedarabemirates.un.org) for more information. 

Interview with Gonzalo Muñoz and Nigel Topping

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Gonzalo Muñoz and Nigel Topping, UN High-Level Champions for Climate Action for Chile's COP25 and the UK's COP26.

Interview with Ambassador Janet Rogan
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Ambassador Janet Rogan, UK COP26 Regional Ambassador: Middle East and Africa

In your view, what are the most important elements that need to come together to deliver a successful COP26?
COP26 needs the world to unite to address the challenges of climate change, COVID19 and sustainable development. Five years after the Paris Agreement (plus one for COVID) COP26 is a checkpoint to look at progress so far and for each country to increase its level of ambition in terms of its national contributions to reducing the factors that are leading to climate change.

The impact of the global COVID19 pandemic has been severe but COP26 gives us the opportunity to consider how to build back better and greener, bringing together global and national agendas for sustainable socio-economic growth, climate resilience and in particular the transition to renewable energy sources.

What are the priorities and challenges you perceive in MENA with regard to climate action?
The MENA region is the most water-stressed region in the world, and is highly vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation. It is already locked into a degree of warming which is showing impacts such as more frequent extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and storms. Climate change disproportionately affects women and girls and exacerbates gender inequalities so it is important to consider gender aspects in policies. There is an urgent global need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to global warming to keep the goal of no more than 1.5 degrees of warming above preindustrial levels alive. Although as a whole the region is responsible for only around 8% of global emissions, there are some high emitters, and overall per capita emissions are high. All countries, including leading hydrocarbon producers, need to adopt a Net Zero approach via NDCs and Long Term Strategies that set out a pathway to Net Zero emissions.

This global move to Net Zero is potentially a big challenge for MENA hydrocarbon exporters as the world shifts away from oil and gas. However, the region is rich in potential renewable energy resources so it is possible to see a viable transition away from hydrocarbons to renewable energy sources. The cost of renewables and other low carbon technology has fallen far more than anticipated and could create up to 2.1 million jobs in MENA by 2050. Choosing the transition to renewable energy is choosing the most economically viable and sustainable future for people in this region and there are already signs of this happening: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Morocco have all announced increased clean energy generation targets, Morocco already has the world’s largest concentrated solar plant and Egypt has recently developed one of the world’s largest photovoltaic solar parks.

Pressures such as conflict and COVID19 increase the difficulties for governments and people in MENA to address socio-economic growth and a green recovery. Bringing together sustainable development plans with climate-resilient recovery plans involving government, private sector, civil society and citizens can help build a better future for the growing young and dynamic population of the region who will benefit from cleaner air, healthier communities, greener jobs, sustainable economic growth, energy security and a safer, more stable climate.

How can the various stakeholders in the region, both public and private, contribute to the achievement of a successful COP26 outcome?
The UK's aim is to host a COP26 that will unite the world on a clear path to a zero carbon economy as we all build back better from COVID-19, with a greener, more resilient, and more inclusive global economy. Our Presidency aims to secure an outcome that reflects the interests of all Parties. However, this outcome needs to accelerate action to reduce emissions, strengthen adaptation and resilience to impacts, scale up support, protect and restore nature, and empower inclusive action. Governments, public sector, private sector and civil society in the region all have to come together to achieve this.

The four core goals for COP26 aim to accelerate progress towards achieving the aims of the Paris Agreement through increased ambition in: Mitigation, Adaptation, Finance and Collaboration. Every country needs to turn their Paris commitments into concrete actions by submitting improved, more ambitious updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the overall global goals by 30 July 2021 so they can be included in the UNFCCC’s synthesis report for COP26. These should contain clear and transparent targets for action at the national and sub-national level, and reflect the best available scientific evidence. For MENA, so far only Morocco, the UAE and Lebanon have submitted their updated NDCs, and we strongly encourage their neighbours to submit their NDCs as soon as possible.

In addition, countries must take an inclusive approach and on way to do that is to strengthen women’s involvement in climate action and take gender fully into account in climate policies. NDCs and National Adaptation Plans should fully mainstream gender perspectives, and women should have equal space at the table to participate in policy- and decision-making on climate issues.

We are also calling on countries to increase their use of nature-based solutions and secure ambitious biodiversity targets while increasing the coverage of protected areas. Collaboration from the private sector is essential to catalyse whole of economy transformation. Businesses should consider joining the Race to Zero where they can share experience and find new routes for climate investment. Civil society organisations, with their links to on-the-ground communities and practitioners, are agents of change and their knowledge and leadership is necessary to deliver effective local solutions. Grass root groups, NGOs and faith groups can play an instrumental part in inspiring governments to increase their ambition and we want to work with them to deliver a truly ‘all of society’ and inclusive COP.

• Interview with Ambassador Janet Rogan, the UK COP26 Regional Ambassador: Middle East and Africa (Arabic translation)
• Translation provided by the British Embassy Dubai, UAE 

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Interview with H.E. Malik Amin Aslam
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26 May 2021 - Pakistan is cognizant of climate change and environmental challenges and has put in place policies and taken initiatives to build a cleaner, healthier environment for its people. It is amongst the very few countries in the world to have a dedicated Ministry of Climate Change and has put in place a National Climate Change Policy, which is being implemented under its Framework for Implementation. 

In our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent pest infestation in the country, Pakistan is striving to advance safeguarding nature and under the ‘Green Economic Stimulus’ is undertaking the ‘10 Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Project’, which is aimed at mass plantation, setting up of nurseries, protecting natural forests and the promotion of other forestry products. 

The ‘Green Nigehabaan Initiative’ is providing thousands of job opportunities to youth and daily-wagers. The Green Economic Stimulus also promotes the ‘Clean and Green Pakistan Movement’, which adopts a holistic approach and aims at reducing and alleviating air, ground and water pollution. 

The Ministry of Climate Change has already launched the ‘Ecosystems Restoration Initiative’ (ESRI), which focuses on nature-based solutions to strengthen Pakistan’s climate change response. Under the ‘Protected Area Initiative’, Pakistan is developing 15 model Protected Areas to conserve over 7,300 square kilometers of its land area, as well as creating over 5,000 ‘nature- based’ jobs. Through this initiative, Pakistan will expand the protected area coverage to at least 15% by 2023. 

Pakistan is also in the process of revising its Nationally Determined Contribution to reflect more robust climate action, by including recent mitigation and adaptation initiatives, strengthening of monitoring, reporting and verification and instituting ‘whole of government’ and ‘whole of society’ approaches. 

Through enhanced engagement with the UNFCCC-WGEO Regional Collaboration Center for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (RCC Dubai), Pakistan is strengthening its role as a responsible country, where the possibility of introducing carbon pricing is being explored. The UNFCCC-WGEO RCC Dubai is further supporting Pakistan in capacity-building and institutional strengthening with regard to the facilitation of the climate change agenda in the country.

Egyptian efforts to tackle climate change

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Climate change is likely to have profound socio-economic consequences worldwide with impacts production and threats to human health.

Despite of COVID-19 crisis on Egypt, Egypt embraced the approach of Green Recovery by being the first country in MENA region to issue green bonds to finance renewable energy, sustainable transportation and waste management. In the same context, the Cabinet of Ministers has endorsed environmental sustainability criteria to be applied to all projects of the national investment plans.  

Egypt restructured the National Council for Climate Change, to be headed by the Prime Minister, with involvement of all line ministers to ensure mainstreaming of climate change into all national plans and policies.

Sustainable Energy strategy 2035 has been developed with a target to increase the share of power generation from renewable energy sources to 42% by 2035, with the effectiveness of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP),

National Adaptation Plan is under development to repackage the potential adaptation activities and initiatives with investment projects, built on the 2011 National Adaptation Strategy (NAS 2011). Currently, Egypt is in the process of finalizing an interactive climate change vulnerability Map to provide precise location for sites where people, natural environment or property are at risk because of climate change threats and disasters potential risks.

In conclusion, I would like to stress the critical role of international cooperation, global partnership and regional collaboration, in providing the necessary means of implementation (finance, technology and capacity building) to achieve our goals and to raise our ambition.

  Interview with the COP26 Regional Ambassador
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Sir Laurie Bristow, 
COP26 Regional Ambassador to the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and China

13 October 2020 - Sir Laurie Bristow the UK government’s COP26 Regional Ambassador to the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and China shares information about his role as COP26 Regional Ambassador, his view on the important elements that need to come together to deliver a successful COP26, challenges and priorities for the region and more.

The role of COP26 Regional Ambassador

My role as COP26 Regional Ambassador involves working with our international partners to ensure that the world meets the goal we set in the Paris Agreement: to limit global warming to well within 2 degrees and as close to 1.5 degrees as possible.  To achieve that goal, we all need to increase our level of ambition ahead of COP26, which the UK will host in November 2021.  

I connect with a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, businesses and civil society, on the need for ambitious climate action - sharing information, ideas, views and concerns, explaining our approach and listening to what our partners want to achieve at COP26. All countries and all parts of society need to be involved if we are to deliver the changes needed to tackle climate change and protect our future. COVID-19 has reduced the scope for in-person international meetings. So I and my colleagues are doing as much “virtual diplomacy” as we can – by video and phone conferences, webinars and through traditional and social media. 

1) In your view, what are the most important elements that need to come together to deliver a successful COP26?
The most important things are ambition and creative thinking. We want all countries to come forward with ambitious 2030 climate plans (NDCs) and long-term strategies to reach zero carbon emissions as soon as possible, and well ahead of COP26. We all need to step up and help societies and economies adapt to climate change, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable. This includes ensuring the annual $100bn climate finance goal is met. And we all need to encourage and support the innovation that will help us achieve the Paris goals.

To support this, the UK will co-host an event with the UN on 12 December on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. This event, and the COP26 summit, will provide an opportunity for the world to come together and commit to urgent action to build a greener and more resilient future as we recover from COVID-19. We will use the event to encourage leaders to announce ambitious, new commitments, and we hope that countries in the region will take advantage of this platform. The pandemic has shown the importance of international cooperation. We can and will meet these huge global challenges, if we work together.

2) What are the priorities and challenges you perceive in MENA with regard to climate action?
The MENA region is also already under significant environmental pressures such as extreme heat and water scarcity. These are likely to be made worse by future climate change. So we need to work together now to mitigate risks to the region’s prosperity and security from climate change, and build the region's capacity to adapt. As we recover from COVID-19 we also have a huge opportunity to build a more sustainable, prosperous future. The region is hugely important as a producer of hydrocarbons, but the countries of the region are also diversifying their economies and looking to build long term prosperity.  We need to work with those countries to plan for a global transition to a low carbon economy that delivers prosperity for all.

3) How can the various stakeholders in the region, both public and private, contribute to the achievement of a successful COP26 outcome?
All signatories to the Paris Agreement agreed to publish medium and long term plans for meeting the Paris goals. We are asking all our partners to be ambitious. But publishing our plans is not enough: we also need to implement them, to build sustainable economies while protecting our environment for future generations. Both public and private sectors have crucial roles. In setting policy and regulatory frameworks; in offering innovative solutions and technologies; in educating the public and responding to the public’s concerns. There is a growing young and dynamic population across the MENA region. There will be opportunities for them in greening the economy and we want young people across the region to benefit from these opportunities.

Interview with the Minister
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His Excellency Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh 
Minister of Environment
Jordan

26 June 2020 - His Excellency Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, the Minister of Environment of Jordan, shares his perspective on the important role that regional collaboration can play in enhancing momentum for climate action.

Share an overview of successful initiatives of Jordan to promote climate action 

Jordan is one of the most active countries in the Middle East in tackling climate change and involvement in international response actions. We were the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement and we have since then geared up our national climate policies to adapt to climate change. 2020 was a big year for Jordan as we have launched a National Adaptation Plan and National Green Growth Action Plan for critical sectors, and we are currently updating our national climate change policy to reflect the latest developments. We have also introduced climate change curriculum in secondary schools and universities to involve younger generations. We have focused on developing national scale, bankable climate actions to stimulate job growth and a circular economy with engagement of the private sector, development partners, and global climate funds. We are also proactively transforming public institutions and spaces to increase energy efficiency. We have retrofitted public schools, installed solar PV systems and implemented LED lights in all municipal streets. Jordan is also a pioneer in electric car mobility in the region.

Information/progress on the Jordon’s NDCs to promote climate action

Jordan was amongst the first countries in the region to prepare in a fully participatory manner its NDCs. Jordan seeks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 14 % by 2030. This is an ambitious target, for a small developing country like but it reflects and confirms our commitment towards achieving the SDGs. At the same time, we are developing our 2nd BUR and updating our NDCs. The implementation of a national Monitoring Reporting and Verification system provides us baseline data and strengthens our ability to track progress against our NDCs. Our NDC Action Plan underwent national consultation, prioritization, and integration with other relevant policies such as the National Green Growth Action Plans to ensure coordination and identify synergies for implementation. We are now finalizing sub-national climate action plans which will ensure mainstreaming of climate action at the sectorial and local levels.

Importance of regional collaboration and role of RCC Dubai for the region

Deepened collaboration and partnerships at the regional level are required to ensure resiliency and sustainable economic growth throughout the Middle East. Regional cooperation can have a catalytic impact on the speed and efficiency with which we all achieve our global commitments. With RCC Dubai providing regional coordination, advanced knowledge of barriers and bottlenecks, research-based technical support, and increasing awareness among key stakeholders, particularly the youth we can drive substantial impact in improving regional resiliency while increasing sustainable development.

26 June 2020 - The CiACA initiative was launched by the UNFCCC secretariat following the historic Paris Agreement in order to offer assistance to countries willing to explore the use of economic instruments to achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Listen to Mr. James Grabert, Director, Mitigation Division and Acting Director, Communication and Engagement Division, UN Climate Change, provide an overview of the initiative.

Interview with the Minister
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H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi
Minister of Climate Change and Environment
United Arab Emirates

9 April 2020 - H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, shares about the important role that regional collaboration can play in enhancing momentum and how RCC Dubai will be instrumental in achieving the climate action objectives of the region.  

How can regional collaboration support the climate action objectives of the region?

Collective climate action is the only path to achieving our climate objectives. Through informing and catalyzing the response to climate change, regional collaboration plays a key role in expediting and scaling up climate action in the region to ensure we have the momentum to succeed. As the countries of the region are similarly affected by climate change, they are working on unifying their approaches to climate action and moving towards integrated environmental governance. Climate change knows no borders, and neither should we.

What do you see as the role and value addition of RCC Dubai for the region?

RCC Dubai brings a host of value-added benefits. Most importantly, it ensures that all countries in the region are on the same page in terms of climate change to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, and brings climate finance to our green entrepreneurs. Realizing that climate action is a collective responsibility, the Center is instrumental in creating productive synergies between stakeholders, as well as building their capacities to expedite all-inclusive climate action. We applaud the role of RCC Dubai and will continue to support its mission.

How will the various projects that RCC Dubai is undertaking promote and propagate momentum towards climate action in the region?

RCC Dubai's projects engage stakeholders from governments, the private sector, and civil society from across the region in collaborating on swift, bold actions aimed at addressing the climate challenge. They offer opportunities to forge partnerships that advance adaptation strategies and channel resources to boost the adaptive capacity. Another important aspect is that initiatives launched by the Center significantly contribute to filling the knowledge gaps for the stakeholders, allowing them to step up their involvement.

29 November 2019 - Listen to Yolando Velasco at the UN Climate Change, speaking about the Needs-based Finance (NBF) project and the Arab Climate Finance Mobilization and Access Strategy.

29 November 2019 - Hear from Youssef Nassef at the UN Climate Change about the barriers knowledge gaps pose to successful adaptation action, the efforts of the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) in overcoming these barriers and the work of RCC Dubai in supporting the LAKI.