UAE Leads Dialogue on Long-Term Development Planning at Ministerial Climate Meeting in Copenhagen

Climate Meeting in Copenhagen

 UAE Leads Dialogue on Long-Term Development Planning at Ministerial Climate Meeting in Copenhagen

His Excellency Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, led the UAE delegation participating in the ministerial climate meeting held in Copenhagen, the capital of the Kingdom of Denmark. The event brought together climate ministers and leaders from around the world to advance the outcomes of COP28 and pave the way toward COP30.

Held from May 7 to 8, the meeting marked a pivotal milestone in the global climate agenda, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and representing a critical mid-point in the decade for achieving the 1.5°C global warming limit.

HE Balalaa represented the COP28 Presidency during the ministerial dialogue session on "Long-Term Development Planning", which was co-chaired by the Presidencies of COP28, COP29, and COP30 under the Troika framework. The session focused on transforming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into strategic tools for sustainable development, investment stimulation, and enhanced institutional resilience.

In his remarks, HE Balalaa stated:

"As the initiating country of the Troika Roadmap to 1.5°C, the UAE believes that NDCs should not remain mere pledges, but must be integrated into national development plans that combine investment, inclusivity, and adaptability."

On the sidelines of the meeting, HE Balalaa held bilateral meetings with key partners, including the Norwegian Minister of Climate and the Environment, the Danish Deputy Minister for Energy, Climate and Utilities, Denmark's Minister for Environment and Gender Equality, and Denmark’s Climate Ambassador. These meetings focused on enhancing bilateral coordination on priorities leading up to COP30.

He also met with CEOs from Denmark’s renewable energy sector, including Vestas (wind turbine manufacturer), CIP (renewable energy investment portfolio), and AVK Holding (water solutions), to explore further collaboration.

During these engagements, HE Balalaa reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to leading the implementation of the Baku Climate Unity Accord, including the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Response Fund, and advancing progress toward the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance.

He also highlighted the UAE’s pioneering role in climate finance, citing its $100 million contributions to both the Loss and Damage Response Fund (FRLD) and the Methane Emissions Reduction and Gas Flaring Minimization Fund (GFMR), in addition to the launch of the ALTÉRRA platform with $30 billion in capital to drive transformational finance and private sector engagement.

In this context, HE Balalaa emphasized the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development, especially through its joint hosting with the Republic of Senegal of the UN 2026 Water Conference, a key milestone for linking water security, climate resilience, and the Sustainable Development Goals. He underscored the UAE’s belief that climate action cannot be separated from water issues and reaffirmed the nation’s dedication to leading international cooperation for a sustainable future for coming generations.

This participation reflects the UAE's ongoing efforts to strengthen international partnerships in support of global climate action. It also builds on the historic UAE Consensus reached at COP28, held in Expo City Dubai in late 2023, to accelerate action on adaptation, energy transition, and resilience, in preparation for COP30, scheduled to take place in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025.