In a resolute effort to address the urgent needs of fragile and conflicted-affected nations in the face of climate change, the COP28 Presidency officially presented the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace. The Declaration, already backed by 70 governments and 39 organisations, signifies a unified commitment to intensify investment and actions aimed at bolstering resilience in countries and communities grappling with conflict, fragility, or humanitarian crises.
Ambassador Al Suwaidi, COP28 Director-General, underscored the imperative nature of the Declaration, stating, “Climate change impacts everybody but we are not all being affected equally. In fragile and conflict-affected settings, extreme weather events affect three times as many people annually compared to other countries.” He emphasised the stark reality that individuals in extremely fragile states receive significantly less climate finance—up to 80 times less—compared to their counterparts in non-fragile states. The COP28 Presidency is unwavering in its commitment to fostering action and consensus to rectify this disparity.
The day witnessed the unveiling of the ‘Getting Ahead of Disasters Charter,’ outlining principles for collaborative action to manage climate-related risks and safeguard vulnerable populations. Both the Declaration and Charter are integral components of a broader strategy at COP28 to accelerate global resilience efforts.
Further, the COP28 Presidency, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations, hosted presidents of countries in the Horn of Africa to introduce a regional climate security strategy. Additionally, the COP28 Presidency joined forces with the UN Secretary-General to rally support for ‘Early Warnings for All,’ an initiative striving to cover 100% of the globe with early warning systems by 2027.
December 3 was designated as a day dedicated to health, underscoring the COP28 Presidency’s commitment to focusing global attention on shielding communities from the perils of climate change. The day featured the inaugural Climate and Health Ministerial at a COP, bringing together Ministers of Health and senior health delegates from over 100 countries. This ministerial event garnered support for the COP28 Climate and Health Agenda and the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health,’ unveiled on December 2 at the World Climate Action Summit. Endorsed by over 120 countries, the declaration galvanised over $1 billion in climate health financing from partners.
Ambassador Al Suwaidi encapsulated the day’s significance, stating, “While we build the energy system of tomorrow, we cannot ignore the needs of people today. We must rapidly protect and promote their health and well-being while improving the climate-resilience of healthcare systems and reduce climate-health risks.”
