COP31 Leaders’ Summit: Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Leads UAE Delegation in Antalya on Behalf of President
Antalya, The Gulf Observer: On behalf of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, led a high-level UAE delegation at the opening of the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, Türkiye. The summit, held on 11 and 12 November, forms part of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31).
His Highness Sheikh Saud attended the opening session, chaired by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, in the presence of heads of state, government leaders and senior officials from around the world, as well as representatives of the United Nations and international organisations.
The summit brings world leaders together to strengthen international cooperation, accelerate the implementation of climate commitments and advance collective efforts to confront climate challenges.
UAE Reaffirms Its Role at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit
His Highness Sheikh Saud affirmed that the UAE continues to play an active role in advancing global climate action, highlighting the country’s approach of balancing economic development with environmental protection, investing in clean energy, technology and innovation, and strengthening international partnerships to build a more sustainable future.
He emphasised that the UAE has established a development model in which economic growth and climate action go hand in hand, with investment in people, knowledge and technology forming the foundation of a more diversified and sustainable economy.
He noted that the UAE’s experience shows how climate ambitions can be turned into tangible opportunities for growth and innovation, improving quality of life while preserving resources for future generations.
Building on the Historic UAE Consensus
His Highness Sheikh Saud underlined the significance of the historic UAE Consensus, reached at COP28 in Dubai, as a milestone in global climate action that demonstrated the international community’s ability to agree on shared challenges.
He stressed that the focus must now shift to building on that consensus by accelerating the implementation of climate commitments, mobilising finance and investment, expanding access to clean technologies and supporting a just, orderly and responsible energy transition that reflects different national circumstances and delivers real benefits for communities worldwide.
Accompanying His Highness Sheikh Saud was a high-level delegation comprising Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture; Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State; and Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
Held under the theme “Towards a Sustainable, Resilient and Equitable Future,” the Leaders’ Summit is part of COP31, hosted by Türkiye from 9 to 20 November. The conference focuses on translating climate commitments into practical action and strengthening international cooperation in clean energy, climate finance and climate adaptation to advance sustainable development.
Tour of the UAE Pavilion
During his visit, His Highness Sheikh Saud toured the UAE Pavilion at COP31, organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, where he was briefed on national initiatives and projects in clean energy, water security, climate finance and natural resource conservation.
He was also briefed on the UAE’s efforts to strengthen integration between the energy and water sectors, develop innovative solutions to improve resource efficiency and climate resilience, and advance international initiatives and partnerships that support global climate action.
His Highness Sheikh Saud later attended an official dinner hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in honour of the heads of state and government participating in the Antalya Leaders’ Summit.
Continuing the Legacy of COP28
The UAE’s participation in the summit reflects its continued commitment to advancing international climate action and building on the outcomes of COP28, hosted in Dubai in 2023.
Central to those outcomes was the UAE Consensus, which called for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner, tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030.
COP28 also saw the adoption of the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience to strengthen adaptation efforts, along with the operationalisation of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. During the conference, the UAE President announced the launch of ALTÉRRA, a US$30 billion climate investment vehicle designed to mobilise US$250 billion in climate investments worldwide by 2030.
