Meetings on strengthening international efforts, supporting local communities in COP 28

Dubai (ST) – With the participation of Syria, the work of the twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP 28) continues in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Syrian technical delegation, headed by the Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Eng. Jihad Kanaan, participated in the high-level ministerial meeting on enhancing ambition and cooperation in climate action by adopting solutions derived from nature to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The meeting discussed the importance of regional and global cooperation in the fields of research to develop scientific solutions, protecting existing natural regions and setting specific and clear commitments to support local communities in adapting to climate change.

The Syrian technical delegation also participated in a meeting on the sidelines of the conference held in the pavilion of the League of Arab States, organized by the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, focusing on the technological and financing needs of the Arab agricultural sector to adapt to climate change.

Participants in the meeting stressed the need to develop and build the capabilities of small farmers in Arab countries, who are classified as vulnerable groups, to adapt to the negative effects of climate change.

In a related context, the Syrian technical delegation also participated in a meeting on issues related to the impact of implementing response measures that serve the Climate Change Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement on states parties, especially developing countries. The participants stressed the importance of providing assistance to developing countries, building capacities, supporting national priorities and policies to mitigate climate change and sustainable development.

Another group of the Syrian delegation attended the coordination meeting of the 77 Group and China, which included representatives of most of the committees in this group, as these committees presented what was discussed in the financing, transparency and agriculture reports and national adaptation plans.

It is noteworthy that the COP 28 activities were launched on the 30th of last month in Expo City Dubai and will continue until the 12th of this December.

Najla Khoury