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Day 59: Monday 2 October 

Decarbonisation has emerged as the dominant theme at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) this year.

In his keynote address during the Adipec 2023 opening ceremony on 2 October, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, Cop28 president-designate and managing director and CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), highlighted that the energy industry “can and must help drive the solutions”.

Al-Jaber said: “For too long, this industry has been viewed as part of the problem, that it’s not doing enough and in some cases even blocking progress.

“This is your opportunity to show the world that, in fact, you are central to the solution,” al-Jaber, who is also UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said in his opening remarks.

Day 64: Wednesday 27 September

Israel and Jordan are expected to finalise a water-for-energy deal during Abu Dhabi’s Cop28 summit.

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz met Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel al-Ramahi in Tel Aviv on 26 September “to advance a water-for-energy deal with Jordan”, according to a local media report citing an Israel Energy Ministry statement.

Israel and Jordan announced the preliminary deal in 2021, with the UAE as a partner.

Dubbed Project Prosperity, the programme envisages 600MW of solar energy exported to Israel and 200 million cubic metres of desalinated water sent to Jordan.

Day 65: Tuesday 26 September

Cop28 president-designate Sultan al-Jaber has met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other senior ranking government officials in Tokyo to discuss mutual cooperation in areas including energy transition.

During Al-Jaber’s visit, a joint declaration of intent (JDI) was signed by the UAE Industry & Advanced Technology Ministry and Japan’s Economy, Trade & Industry Ministry, to enhance cooperation on climate action between the two nations. The JDI envisages the development of a global green energy hub by the two nations. 

Al-Jaber also highlighted the importance of Asian nations in the energy transition, with the region expected to be responsible for two-thirds of additional energy demand by 2045.

Day 72: Tuesday 19 September

The Cop28 presidency arrived in New York for the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week. Cop28 president-designate Sultan al-Jaber said: “The connection between health and climate change is evident, yet it has not been a specific focus of the Cop process – until now. This must change.”

Al-Jaber then held further consultations and discussions with world leaders. He later called on the private sector to play its role in ushering in a new era for sustainable climate finance to ensure the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Day 73: Monday 18 September

Cop28 has appointed Kuehne+Nagel as its official logistics partner. The event is expected to have over 70,000 accredited visitors to the restricted Blue Zone and 50,000 daily visitors to the public Green Zone.

Day 77: Thursday 14 September

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has announced it will be a Cop28 Principal Pathway Partner. The sponsorship deal will give it a highly visible presence throughout the 12-day event. 

“Masdar is proud of the pioneering role we have played in advancing the clean energy sector and enabling the UAE’s vision as a global leader in sustainability and climate action.

“As a Cop28 Principal Pathway Partner, we embrace this opportunity to showcase our proven track record in advancing the commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy and clean technologies to address the world’s sustainability challenges,” said Mohamed Jameel al-Ramahi, CEO, Masdar.

Day 78: Wednesday 13 September

Investcorp has announced it will be an Associate Pathway Partner at Cop28. "Recent climate events and record temperatures around the world underscore the reality that we are facing increasing risks with limited time to act,” said Mohammed Alardhi, executive chairman of Investcorp.

Day 80: Monday 11 September 2023

At least 2,300 people have died and more than 10,000 were reported missing when a storm swept through Derna in eastern Libya on 11 September. Heavy rains from Storm Daniel caused a water dam about 12 kilometres from Derna to fail, sending water down a valley and overwhelming a second dam closer to the city.

Storm Daniel brought Libya the heaviest rainfall in 40 years. Before making landfall in Derna, the storm caused severe floods in Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. It has been called a Medicane – a portmanteau for Mediterranean and hurricane – which experts said drew enormous energy from extremely warm seawater.  A warmer atmosphere is also understood to hold more water vapour that can fall as rain.

Day 81: Sunday 10 September 2023 

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Climate Change & Environment Minister, urged the Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) to support the need to transform food systems to make them “more resilient and inclusive and leverage them as engines of economic growth and prosperity for all”. 

The forum took place after the UAE pledged $4.5bn in support of clean energy projects at the Africa Climate Summit.

Day 82: Saturday 9 September 2023

G20 leaders have endorsed recommendations made by the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) on how the world can move in line with the Paris Agreement targets.

The report, titled Low-Cost Financing for Energy Transitions, by Irena and India’s G20 presidency, estimates a need for $4tn in annual investments by 2030.

According to the report, the world needs to triple global renewable power capacity to just over 11,000GW by 2030 to maintain the possibility of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Irena director-general Francesco La Camera noted the need to build political momentum as the world prepares for Cop28, citing that an ambitious action agenda that “is inclusive of both developed and developing countries at Cop28 will be essential to addressing the climate challenge”.

Day 84: Thursday 7 September 2023 

MEED reports on Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) signing an agreement with state utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) to build and operate the 1,800MW sixth phase of Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park.

The solar photovoltaic project will be developed on an independent power producer basis and is anticipated to cost up to AED5.51bn ($1.5bn).

The project is expected to provide power to half a million residences and reduce carbon emissions by 2.36 million tonnes annually

Day 85: Wednesday 6 September 2023

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has achieved a financial investment decision on a project to develop a large carbon capture facility at its Habshan gas processing complex in Abu Dhabi. The Habshan carbon capture, utilisation and storage project is aligned with Adnoc Group’s overall target of attaining net-zero emissions by 2045, and reaching zero methane emissions by 2030.

Day 86: Tuesday 5 September 2023

The UAE has announced a $4.5bn finance initiative to boost clean energy projects in Africa.

Four UAE institutions will provide the public, private and development capital, including Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Etihad Credit Insurance and UAE-based clean energy developers Masdar and Amea Power.

Day 87: Monday 4 September 2023

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has been granted observer status for Cop28.

RICS chief executive Justin Young said: “According to the UN, the built environment is responsible for nearly 40 per cent of all carbon output and 50 per cent of all extracted materials.

“RICS will meet with representatives from the UN, delegates from governments, corporations and non-profits, to express the views and aims of the built-environment sector and communicate its work to promote sustainability and achieve net zero.” 

Day 88: Sunday 3 September 2023

Egypt’s Petroleum & Mineral Resources  Minister Tarek el-Molla has issued a statement saying that Cop28 will be an opportunity to further unite global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

The minister highlighted renewable energy technology as one of the ways to curb emissions and protect the environment, and called for global cooperation to ensure a sustainable future.

Day 89: Saturday 2 September 2023

EU countries are preparing to push for a global deal on phasing out fossil fuels at Cop28, according to a report by Reuters.

“The shift towards a climate-neutral economy will require the global phase-out of [unabated] fossil fuels and a peak in their consumption already in the near term,” said a draft document outlining the EU’s negotiating stance.

Day 90: Friday 1 September 2023

The Washington-based IMF has issued a report saying that fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) will disproportionately suffer from climate change, for reasons including their geographical location and dependence on agriculture.

About one in five countries worldwide are considered to be FCS, home to nearly 1 billion people and 43 per cent of the world’s poor.

Day 91: Thursday 31 August 2023

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has announced that its eighth World Investment Forum is partnering with Cop28 and other key entities to advance climate finance and investment discussions.

Cop28’s second preparatory Global Dialogue and Investment-Focused Event will be held in conjunction with the forum in Abu Dhabi on 16-20 October 2023.

The Global Dialogues and Investment-Focused Events were agreed upon by the parties at Cop27, with the first Global Dialogue being held in Bonn in June. The overall outcome of deliberations will feed directly into Cop28 negotiations.

Day 92: Wednesday 30 August 2023

The Cop28 presidency has called for urgent action to strengthen global adaptation efforts to boost the resilience of vulnerable communities, ecosystems and economic sectors at the Korea Global Adaptation Week 2023.

Majid al-Suwaidi, director-general and special representative of Cop28, told the forum that the presidency is committed to prioritising adaptation and resilience.

“Under the focus of putting people and communities back at the heart of climate action, we are working to deliver on the Global Goal on Adaptation, and to elevate issues across food, health, water, nature and relief and recovery,” Al-Suwaidi told the forum in Incheon.

He added that the Global Stocktake at Cop28, which will assess countries’ progress in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), will enable a thorough assessment of successes and gaps, representing a significant moment to raise ambition and action for adaptation.

The first Global Stocktake will take place on 1-2 December – the second and third day of Cop28 – alongside the World Climate Action Summit.

Day 93: Tuesday 29 August 2023

The Washington-based IMF has issued a report saying that fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) will disproportionately suffer from climate change due to their geographical location and dependence on agriculture.

About one in five countries worldwide are considered to be FCS, home to nearly 1 billion people and 43 per cent of the world’s poor.

The report says FCS face higher temperatures than other countries and will be more exposed to extreme heat going forward.

Climate change is forecast to lead to an even higher number of days at extremely high temperatures, which will endanger human health.

By 2040-59, the median FCS will face 61 days a year of temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, compared to only 15 days for other countries under a high-emissions scenario.

Day 94: Monday 28 August 2023

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has announced that its eighth World Investment Forum is partnering with Cop28 and other key entities to advance climate finance and investment discussions.

Cop28’s second preparatory Global Dialogue and Investment-Focused Event will be held in conjunction with the forum in Abu Dhabi on 16-20 October 2023.

The Global Dialogues and Investment-Focused Events were agreed upon by the parties at Cop27, with the first Global Dialogue held in Bonn in June. The overall outcome of deliberations will feed directly into Cop28 negotiations.

Day 95: Sunday 27 August 2023

Dubai’s ninth World Green Economy Summit will be held on 28-29 November, right before the start of Cop28.

Over the past eight years, the event has convened climate change leaders, policymakers and the private sector to stimulate investments in the global green economy, develop sustainable solutions to environmental challenges and encourage innovation.

The World Green Economy Organisation, state utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy organise the annual summit, which takes place at Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre.

Day 96: Saturday 26 August 2023

At a conference in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, 48 African countries articulated their commitment to address climate change and human mobility challenges in Africa.

The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events resulting from climate change directly affect migration in Africa. Last year, more than 7.5 million new internal disaster displacements were recorded on the continent and it is forecast that up to 105 million people could become internal migrants within Africa.

“The need to address human mobility in the context of climate and environmental change has increased in global importance and urgency,” said Mohammed Abdiker, director for the East and Horn of Africa at the International Organisation for Migration, which is part of the UN.

Day 97: Friday 25 August 2023

The UAE Banks Federation (UBF) says six major UAE banks – First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates NBD, Dubai Islamic Bank, Mashreq and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – had dedicated over AED190bn ($51.8bn) in green financing for projects in renewable energy, waste-to-energy and green technology by the end of 2022.

In a statement, the federation said the financing supports the UAE’s Year of Sustainability and its hosting of Cop28. It added that it expects other UBF members to follow.  

Jamal Saleh, director general of UBF, identified three major areas through which federation members will drive the financial sector’s transformation.

The first is by propelling green projects by providing funds and issuing green bonds. The second is by instilling green practices among customers, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), suppliers and vendors; and the third is by measuring and efficiently managing every UBF member’s carbon footprint and reporting the reductions achieved by the sector.

Day 98: Thursday 24 August 2023 

Cop28 director-general Majid al-Suwaidi highlighted the importance of climate finance in an interview with CNN. 

“Climate finance is going to be a really important piece of our Cop. We have been travelling around the world and engaging with many different stakeholders, talking about what challenges they face. And it comes down to a desire to take action, but in many cases, that means we need to provide the finances for them to do so. In particular in the developing world, where they are trying to grapple with development challenges. 

“We need to make sure finance is made available, more accessible and, importantly, more affordable. As Cop president, we have put this at the top of the agenda.”

Day 99: Wednesday 23 August 2023 

Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) has announced that the third edition of the SGI Forum will take place on 4 December, during Cop28 at Expo City, Dubai. 

Now in its third year, the SGI Forum plans to build on both 2021’s inaugural event in Riyadh, which unveiled Saudi Arabia’s 2060 net-zero commitment, and on last year’s forum held in Egypt in tandem with Cop27.

Day 100: Tuesday 22 August 2023

The UAE started a 100-day countdown on 22 August for the upcoming 28th Conference of the Parties (Cop28), which takes place at Expo City in Dubai between 30 November and 12 December.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Climate Change & Environment Minister, affirmed the country’s readiness to host Cop28.

She highlighted the UAE’s pivotal role in “advancing global climate initiatives, safeguarding our natural environment and earth, and paving the way for a brighter future for subsequent generations”.

Almheiri said: “This is a moment we have been looking forward to, as it highlights the UAE’s efforts in tackling climate change on both a national and international scale.”