The visit comes just months after the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in November 2021.
British MP and COP26 President Alok Sharma is conducting a visit to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Summits hosted by the two counties.
Following the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Sharma is expected to build a strong partnership with the COP27 and COP28 hosts. He has completed a visit to Egypt and is currently in the UAE.
The partnership will be especially important in helping to monitor the first Global Stocktake which will oversee the progress made by nations in implementing the terms of the Paris Agreement.
“We all need to make further progress in 2022 and especially on delivering the $100 billion of finance and addressing the investment needs in the most climate vulnerable countries,” said Alok Sharma, President for 2021’s COP26.
During his visit to Egypt, Sharma and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly issued a joint statement regarding their commitment to accelerating the fight against climate change.
Sharma also announced the launch of the ‘Climate Finance Accelerator’ Program in Egypt. The program, which has been running in the United Kingdom since 2017, will help ensure funding for climate projects in Egypt by providing capacity-building support.
“Our ‘Climate Finance Accelerator’ Program […] will generate a series of inspiring low carbon investment opportunities in Egypt,” said Gareth Bayley, British Ambassador to Egypt.
Sharma will also be taking part in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, in which global leaders will congregate to discuss the necessary steps needed to further combat climate change.
“Climate change is a central pillar of the UK and UAE bilateral partnership,” said Patrick Moody, British Ambassador to the UAE. “Our two countries will continue to cooperate […] and make sure that the global community delivers on the ambitious commitments made at COP26.”
The COP26 conference was notable for its myriad difficulties. For instance, while the summit maintained its goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees (as per the Paris Agreement), the failure to launch the loss-and-damage fund meant that developing countries could not be compensated for damage caused by climate change.
