At the United Arab Emirates Pavilion the commitment to innovation and education

• In the first of a series of Agriculture Innovation Mission (AIM) climate events at COP28, the United Arab Emirates and the United States announced significant progress since COP27 in terms of committed investments, with an additional $9 billion in funding to address agriculture's role in the climate crisis and an increase in partnerships and innovation
  
• Our Changemaker Majlis hosted a conversation on “An education system for a sustainable future”, highlighting the importance of climate-focused curricula 
  
  
  

The UAE Pavilion at the COP28 programs on 8 December 2023 featured meetings in line with the global climate conference's “Youth, Children, Education and Skills” thematic day, with event discussions highlighting the importance of innovation and sharing knowledge to nourish future generations.

Key announcements and dialogues at the UAE Pavilion at COP28 on 8 December 2023 included:

• The first of three events AIM for Climate at COP28, with the Friday program focusing on “The future of food systems innovation.” Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilions at COP28, and US Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack announced important achievements from COP27. During the last year. AIM for Climate has increased its partner base to 600, an increase of 325 partners; they went from $8 billion in committed investments to $17 billion; and nearly tripled the number of innovation sprints, from 27 to 78 sprints.
  

AIM for Climate is a joint initiative of the United Arab Emirates and the United States, which seeks to address climate change and global hunger by uniting participants to significantly increase support for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation in the 5-year span (2021-2025).

During a media briefing following the discussion, Her Excellency Mariam highlighted the inextricable link between food, health and climate and the importance of innovation in facilitating change around the world. Secretary Vilsack talked about how food and agriculture can also transform other sectors, including transportation and construction, by providing low-carbon fuel and turning methane into concrete.
Both government officials gave examples of providing assistance to farmers and smallholders in their countries and reducing risks in adopting technologies associated with change, confirming that communication and upskilling are key.

• During an overview of the Government Experience Exchange Program (GEEP), His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, presented the UAE Government's efforts in knowledge sharing initiatives between the UAE and GEEP partner countries. Working to share best practices in government development and modernization across services and sectors including health, education and business, GEEP partner countries have increased by 600% since 2018, enabling a transfer of experiences and strategies that support development efforts and build a better world for future generations.
  

• A Changemaker Majlis, curated by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), facilitated the exchange of ideas on creating an education system for a sustainable future. As UNESCO data shows that only 53% of the world's national curricula currently refer to climate change, Majlis participants, including students, climate experts and academia, gave their views on how systems education could incorporate sustainability at all levels and involve all stakeholders in the process.
  
  
• A session that highlighted the first building in the United Arab Emirates to achieve the highest level of sustainability in design and construction: the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center (SZDLC) , part of the Al Ain Wildlife Park, examined the centre's commitment to sustainability. A designated space for the conservation of the UAE's natural and cultural life, the SZDLC hosts 40.000 students each year and is a major educational and research facility that brings together knowledge and learning.
• Further sessions at the UAE Pavilion included a panel discussion on the importance biodiversity conservation and investment in nature-based solutions hosted by Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) and GAP analysis on climate change research in the UAE: a focus group led by the UAE Climate Change Research Network in collaboration with the American University of Sharjah and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE).
  

Alongside the thoughtful dialogue and key announcements in the UAE pavilion at COP28, the Actionists Hub, located in the Green Zone, also hosted a series of important conversations on climate innovation and education, and ways to empower future generations. Key sessions included; Climate Communications 101 for Youth Leaders, where Allison Agsten, director of the USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication, provided practical skills training for young people to communicate on climate change topics; Green skills training for youth empowerment in the fight against climate change: green businesses and jobs hosted by Majra National CSR Fund, where a panel focused on youth empowerment and explored the benefits of green skills and jobs; and a TEDx-style presentation on intergenerational justice and today's youth by the United Nations Secretary-General Youth Climate Advisory.

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