UAE is to announce new climate commitments ahead of the UN-led meeting in Azerbaijan in November. A top official said the cutbacks will apply to “all greenhouse gases” and “every sector of the economy.” These new promises, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), will be filed before the February deadline, underlining the UAE’s commitment to climate leadership. At a high-level COP Presidencies Troika event hosted during the UN General Assembly in New York, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber urged other countries to follow suit. He encouraged countries to be “early movers” and send clear signals about their respective NDCs by or before the Baku summit. Al Jaber emphasised the need to submit “transformational NDCs backed by serious investment.” The COP Troika, formed by the UAE, Azerbaijan, and Brazil, is trying to support bold collective climate action.

Al Jaber also emphasised the importance of capitalising on current global trends, such as the energy transition, advances in artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging economies, particularly in the Global South, to promote climate action. The UAE’s revamped NDC will focus on all areas of the economy, including energy, industry, transportation, and waste management. It will use cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence to drive decarbonisation and resilience by improving food, health, and early warning systems. Furthermore, the strategy will be supported by a strong legal framework to ensure accountability and enforce time-bound goals in each area.

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UAE’s New Climate Commitments and the Push for Climate Finance at COP29

UAE is set to announce new climate commitments in the upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan and will also aim to secure an agreement on a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. Al Jaber emphasised the importance of ensuring climate money gets to where it is most needed, particularly for developing countries, to reach ambitious 1.5°C-aligned NDCs. Adequate funding for mitigation and adaptation measures is important to meeting global climate targets.

Many developing countries expect trillions of dollars in donations from wealthier nations to help them with climate mitigation initiatives, especially because the world is likely to warm by 2.7 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Earlier this year, the Bonn Climate Change Conference also advocated for more aggressive climate measures. UN Climate Head Simon Stiell warned that the current trend is unsustainable and emphasised the need for NDCs that limit global warming below 1.5°C.

Stiell regarded the new round of NDCs, known as NDCs 3.0, as some of the most critical policy documents of the century. When implemented correctly, NDCs can boost economic growth, increase resilience, and improve human health and living standards. However, the ambitiousness of these plans, particularly in developing and developed countries, depends on the outcomes of the climate finance discussions in Baku.

Many developing countries have emphasised the importance of fair and ambitious budgetary contributions. A draft paper for COP29 shows a need for more agreement on the NCQG, particularly on the amount of funds and who will contribute. Developed countries want emerging economies to bear more of the burden. Still, developing countries believe climate finance should continue to flow from developed to developing countries, as stated by the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

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Reflecting on COP28: The Need for Stronger Global Climate Action

While history was made at COP28 in Dubai last December when 196 countries committed to transitioning out of fossil fuels in a “just, orderly, and equitable” manner, many experts believe more is required. The accord concentrated on low- and zero-emission technologies such as renewables, nuclear energy, carbon capture, and low-carbon hydrogen generation. However, it fell short of numerous goals, including climate targets, money, and accountability for prior polluters.

Global civil society groups, including scientists, corporate leaders, and youth organisations, advocate for new national climate policies aligning with the 1.5°C goal. Their letter, addressed to all UNFCCC focal points, advocates for stopping fossil fuel expansion, sector-specific targets, and plans to triple renewable energy capacity. As Brazil, Azerbaijan, and the UAE prepare to announce their updated NDCs, all countries are under pressure to demonstrate bold leadership and submit ambitious, credible plans to reduce emissions while creating economic opportunities, improving human well-being, and addressing global inequalities.

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