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  US climate envoy John Kerry has defended the United Arab Emirates (UAE) against criticism of its role as the host of this year's COP28 conference in Dubai. Speaking to the Financial Times, Kerry said that it was important to bring oil-producing nations into the UN environment talks and that the UAE presented an opportunity to have the COP conference hosted by a country that "understands the industry, understands the needs and what's doable and what's not, and helping to shape the response of the planet". However, climate campaigners have been increasingly critical of the growing influence of the global fossil fuel industry on the annual UN climate conference. Last year's summit in Egypt ended in disappointment as fossil fuel-producing nations, including Saudi Arabia, blocked a push by others, notably the US and EU, to include a promise to phase down all fossil fuels in the final deal. The decision to hold COP28 in Dubai, a country that relies heavily on oil...

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) has taken a bold step in the fight against climate change by hosting a "Green Retreat" that brought together over 150 high-ranking officials from 50 government and private entities. This event, held under the theme United for Climate, was a precursor to the upcoming Cop28 summit and focused on harnessing the power of various stakeholders to build on their accomplishments in climate change action, environmental preservation, and sustainability. This retreat is a clear indication that the UAE is taking the issue of climate change seriously and is committed to leading the way in finding solutions to this global problem. The country has set a target of generating 50% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2050 and has already made significant progress towards this goal. Initiatives such as the "Green Retreat" are crucial in bringing together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to coll...