Greek officials praise outcomes of COP28

DUBAI: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has praised COP28’s “UAE consensus,” heralding it as a groundbreaking framework aimed at limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 C, Emirates News Agency reported on Sunday.

The remarks were made during a meeting with Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Jaber, the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology and COP28 president.

As part of a formal visit to Greece, Al-Jaber led a delegation comprising both government and private sector leaders. His agenda included key meetings with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Development Minister Kostas Skrekas.

Al-Jaber recognized Greece’s proactive stance on climate change and its support for the UAE’s leadership of last year’s COP28. He highlighted Greece’s contribution to global climate resilience through financial and technological support, emphasizing its role in fostering European engagement in climate neutrality and the shift toward renewable energy sources, and including efforts to safeguard cultural heritage sites from climate change impacts.

Greek officials commended COP28's achievements under the Action Agenda, noting the initiation of 11 pledges and declarations and the generation of over $85 billion dedicated to climate action globally.

Discussions also touched upon strengthening ties under the UAE-Greece Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2020, which covers a broad spectrum of areas, including trade, culture, and energy.

The meetings further reviewed the progress of the $4.2 billion joint investment fund set up in 2022, in the presence of the UAE’s President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and the Greek prime minister. The fund has bolstered Greece’s key sectors and streamlined investment operations.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in the realms of digital innovation, governmental services, and artificial intelligence, seeking to enhance collaboration between their countries’ public and private sectors.