Jusoor International submits letter to UNHRC on achieving climate justice ahead of COP28

The Geneva-based Jusoor International for Media and Development (JIMD), in cooperation with the Arab-European Forum for Dialogue and Human Rights, submitted a written statement regarding climate justice to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in its 52nd Regular Session (HRC52) ahead of the COP28 climate conference to be held in the UAE.

In its letter, JIMD called for prioritizing issues of climate change on the world’s agenda, as they threaten life on earth and deny human rights, affirming that the United Nations has a vital role in enhancing the international work of preserving climate and protecting the environment.

Jusoor International also called for the need for all countries to adhere to a human rights-based approach in the global response to the crisis facing the world in terms of developing legislation and making policies aimed at protecting the climate and achieving climate justice.

JIMD said that the world must respond to the calls made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for addressing all climate change-related risks and challenges, making 2023 a year of peace, working for the environment and the planet, putting an end to all forms of misery and climate injustice, and avoiding making developing countries victims of the burdens and impacts of climate change.

It also stressed the importance of holding the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) at the end of this year in the United Arab Emirates, which is able to develop an effective strategy that contributes to bringing about global changes necessary to achieve climate justice and drawing the world’s attention to these issues to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

JIMD head Mohamed Al-Hammadi said it is important for international organizations to address all issues associated with climate justice to further the effective partnership and make the major countries bear the responsibility towards protecting the climate and helping the developing countries face climate change impacts and problems, in accordance with the terms of the 1994 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the outcomes of the 2015 meeting of the UNFCCC Parties (Conferences of the Parties [COP]).

“The United Arab Emirates pays more attention to achieving climate justice by hosting the COP28 conference and exerting more efforts and achievements in this field, pledging to be the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to reach carbon neutrality by 2050,” he said.

Hammadi added that the UAE provided facilitations and support for more than 30 green agencies, funds, programs and initiatives, in partnership with the United Nations, in commitment to an ambitious national plan aimed at protecting and promoting the blue economy and striving to rely on the green economic model in the country.

The UAE’s ongoing climate efforts come in light of its commitment to support developing countries achieve carbon neutrality and confront negative climate impacts on these countries, in addition to signing international agreements and initiatives to achieve sustainable development, as well as launching many national environmental strategies such as the National Energy Strategy 2050 (ES2050), the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the UAE Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative.