Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, the Emirati Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the President of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), delivered an address during the opening session of the Pre-COP, where he emphasized the urgent need for global unity in addressing climate change.

This year's Pre-COP has recorded unprecedented participation, with 70 ministers and over 100 delegations convening in the UAE's capital, more than double the typical number of participants for such an event, as reported by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

Dr. Al Jaber, in his capacity as COP28 President, stressed, "Now more than ever, we need to come together as a global community to take decisive action on climate change and convey a message of hope, solidarity, stability, and prosperity. We must demonstrate that the international community is capable of delivering on its commitments and send a resounding signal to keep the 1.5-degree target within reach."

He pointed out that, prior to the Paris Agreement, the world was on track for over four degrees of warming, but recent reports indicate a trajectory of two to three degrees of warming. However, he cautioned, "We are moving in the right direction, but not nearly rapidly enough."

Dr. Al Jaber stressed the necessity of developing concrete solutions to achieve a 43 percent reduction in emissions by 2030, in accordance with scientific findings. He called on all participants to collaborate in developing solutions that can foster alignment, common ground, and consensus among all parties. He emphasized the need for responsibility and pragmatism and underscored the importance of leaving no one behind in the fight against climate change.