To find the sustainable solutions that support climate and nature

In line with the vision of the UAE  leadership to contribute to collective efforts aimed at achieving global climate ambitions and sustainable development for current and future generations,

The United Arab Emirates University and Seoul National University held a “Climate Forum” workshop within the activities of the twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties to Climate Change (COP28), in the presence of Professor Ghaleb Al Breiki, Acting Vice Chancellor of the UAE University, Professor Ahmed Murad - Associate Provost for Research, researchers, experts and policy makers from the United Arab Emirates and South Korea, and a wide audience of participants in the activities of the Conference of the Parties. COP28, at the Main Theater, Green Zone of Expo Dubai.

Professor Ghaleb Al Breiki - Acting Vice Chancellor of the UAE University explained, “Today I am pleased to welcome you to the Asian Climate Forum 2023 as part of the activities of the UAE University’s roadmap towards COP28 and beyond, in partnership with Seoul National University of Korea. The climate change refers to long-term changes and rise in average global temperature is largely due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxide act as a blanket that captures and stores heat from the sun near the Earth's surface, leading to global warming.

The fossil fuels, industrial processes and other human activities also contribute to the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming. The global climate also continues to change rapidly compared to the pace of natural changes in climate that have occurred throughout earth history.

He noted that “climate change in a specific area is measured by changing statistical distribution over an extended period of time, and the 2013 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report showed that each of the last three decades has been successively warmer on Earth than any other time since 1850.

He added “Climate changes are already happening and will continue to happen, even if global greenhouse gas emissions are reduced in the short and medium term”. “The climate change is no longer doubtful; however, the scope for future changes and projects remains uncertain, and in Asian countries, Climate change and global warming may have greater impacts due to rising populations and limited resources that may be available to implement mitigation measures.

Many companies and public sector organizations in Asia are beginning to assess its impacts. Climate change would also affect water availability, agricultural productivity, and food security in our countries. Our economic model is based on the assumption that we will develop and supply internally the technology needed to transition to green technology.

Acting Vice Chancellor of the UAE University stressed, “Through this forum, various models of cooperation between Asian countries will be presented and discussed to determine the most appropriate model that guarantees our future, and prepares to mitigate the effects of climate change. Various financial strategies and techniques will be evaluated to enhance Resilience of our businesses, systems and communities.  We look forward to the outcomes and recommendations of this important forum.