During the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), a senior UAE delegation held a meeting with Selwin Charles Hart, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and Assistant Secretary-General for the Climate Action Team. The meeting focused on exploring opportunities for collaborative cooperation and partnerships in the areas of government experience exchange, global climate action, and sustainable development. This meeting comes as the UAE prepares to host COP28.
Led by Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), along with Majid Al Suwaidi, Director-General and Special Representative of COP28, the UAE delegation showcased the country’s successful development journey and its dedicated efforts to achieve comprehensive and sustainable socio-economic development while accelerating the delivery of the SDGs.
The delegation emphasized strategic initiatives undertaken by the UAE across various development aspects, including government operations, capacity building, and the exchange of expertise and visions.
One highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Lootah on the UAE’s Government Experience Exchange Programme (GEEP), a catalyst for establishing global partnerships. GEEP facilitates collaboration between the UAE government and other member countries by sharing best practices and experiences in key areas. So far, GEEP has positively impacted the lives of over one billion people in more than 30 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The UAE officials also provided insights into the Year of Sustainability achievements, the UAE Net Zero strategic initiative aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and the key themes and agenda of COP28.
The meeting also delved into possibilities for enhancing cooperation between the UAE and the United Nations in current and future international initiatives, particularly focusing on climate action’s positive and sustainable impact worldwide, especially in regions and economies most affected by the consequences of climate change.
The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), established in 2012, serves as a crucial platform for the UN to discuss progress on the SDGs and plays a central role in monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This year, the forum is centered around the theme “Accelerating the Recovery from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and the Full Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels.”
