(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) ABU DHABI, 29th March, 2023 (WAM) -- National Experts Programme (NEP) participant Saood Al Noori emphasised the need for countries to start investing in climate action solutions immediately to help avoid long-term consequences during a joint G20-COP28 event on the sidelines of the second G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) meeting in Chennai, India.
Al Noori is the Energy and Renewables sector representative for NEP 3.0, which aims to foster the development of leaders working in sectors strategically important to the UAE's future. His presentation in the“Macroeconomic Impacts of Climate Change and Transition Pathways” session focused on the importance of investing in climate action and the effects of inaction on the global economy.
Al Noori, Head of Diplomatic Engagement at the Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, emphasised the need for countries to look ahead at the long-term impacts of inaction versus action to ensure a safe and liveable world for future generations.
Speaking in front of delegates from G20 countries and international organisations, Al Noori said,“Thinking in the long-term, taking the lead now by investing in climate action, renewables and clean energy is not only the right choice but it's also the smart thing to do.”
He also said investment in climate action immediately is critical to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, in which countries agreed to pursue efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
He added,“There will be very big ramifications on the global economy if we don't align with the goals of the Paris Agreement. If no action is taken, this could lead to more than a 25% loss in global GDP due to climate-related incidents, equating to a yearly loss of more than US$135 trillion.
“One of the consequences of global warming is that if the sea level rises by more than one meter, more than 200 million people could be affected. Overall, people's livelihoods, economies and ecosystems are at stake, so it's essential to collectively address the challenges ahead. Climate change affects us all, and we cannot work on it alone; if we want to bring the world back on track, we must work together and stand united in combating climate change.”
The UAE's participation in the FWG comes ahead of India hosting the G20 in September. With the 28thUnited Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) set to take place in Dubai in November and the country committed to strengthening economic cooperation around the world, the UAE has been invited to join the 2023 summit.
The G20 is a high-level forum for officials representing the 20 largest economies in the world to discuss the most pressing issues facing the global economy, such as trade, climate and health.
The learnings from the meeting in India will inform the work of the FWG and drive momentum for further talks at COP28.
One of 15 UAE-based specialists taking part in the third cohort of NEP, Al Noori has over a decade of experience in international affairs, focusing on energy and diplomacy. In his role as Head of Diplomatic Engagement, he oversees and leads diplomatic efforts in the Asia and Pacific regions.
"NEP has been really helpful for me because it has enabled me to look at all topics objectively and subjectively. I don't look at climate action only through the lens of sustainability but also from the perspective of other relevant topics within the programme.
“Decision-makers need to adapt their skills to be able to understand sectors outside their expertise, and NEP has been really informative in that regard. We learn to look at the wider picture to come up with tangible and solid solutions for the problems that we're experiencing – not only from an expert's point of view but also from a policy-maker's perspective, which helps in my day-to-day job," he added.