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MENA Climate Week 2022 galvanises regional momentum for COP27 Event provides important momentum for a successful COP27 in Sharm elSheikh, Egypt, at the end of 2022 By CCME Content Team
HE first-ever Middle East and North Africa Climate Week, MENACW 2022, concluded on March 31, building on the outcomes of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow at the end of last year and providing important momentum for a successful COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, at the end of this year. Around 4,000 participants joined more than 200 sessions at MENA Climate Week, with around 500 speakers from 147 countries. Conversations included participants from the host Government of the UAE, governments at all levels, private sector leaders, academic experts and engaged stakeholders. MENA Climate Week organising partners led discussions on themes that
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are crucial to meeting the world’s climate challenge. The World Bank examined how to integrate ambitious action across key economic sectors in national planning. UNDP, along with partner organisations, led sessions on adapting to climate risks and building resilience into development strategies. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) led discussions on seizing transformational opportunities through technological innovation and breakthrough solutions. All of this contributes to progress in the UN Climate Change process. At a series of ministerial round tables and panel discussions at the beginning of the week, ministers from the region agreed that the MENA region is facing a number of growing climate change impacts, including desertification, sea
level rise, and threats to water and food security. They also agreed that climate action opens opportunity for new business in the region, with good jobs and economic mobilisation. Financial support, innovative technologies, increased sustainability action and coordination among all stakeholders are crucial to achieve change. And regional action is an opportunity to build on local knowledge and improve global resilience. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “The urgent need to upscale climate action in the region was the focus of MENA Climate Week. We have reaffirmed our continued commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially SDG13: Climate Action, and aligned our efforts to achieve our common climate goals. We have agreed that climate action goes beyond a simple energy transition. We must take a holistic, crosssectoral, economy-wide approach with multi-stakeholder engagement to the transition of societies and economies to a more sustainable future.” Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, said: “The inaugural MENA Climate Week showcased the readiness of leaders and stakeholders from the region to build momentum towards COP27 and accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement in this crucial moment. Without urgent action, the MENA region will see impacts of climate change that put at risk the region’s ability to develop and thrive. Over four days in Dubai, we heard how leaders from across the region are stepping up to address this grave threat and how stakeholders are
