The UAE in the G20 process: boosting resilience, ensuring inclusivity
The United Arab Emirates is participating in the G20 for the second year in a row, as the international community recognises the importance of unity and solidarity in the face of unprecedented and systemic challenges in the international community. Having been invited to the G20 by France in 2011, followed by Saudi Arabia in 2020, Indonesia in 2022 and now India in 2023, the UAE has demonstrated its important and tangible contributions to G20 priorities, particularly concerning post-pandemic recovery, climate change, the energy transition, disaster risk reduction, debt vulnerability and the Sustainable Development Goals. These priorities continue to inform the global agenda, representing the most vital issues facing our countries and peoples at the national and international levels.
The UAE’s G20 participation this year is the culmination of efforts carried out in partnership with the Indian presidency, former G20 presidencies and G20 partners in recent years. It reflects the UAE’s deep-rooted belief in international cooperation and multilateralism as the most effective approach to leverage opportunities and resolve challenges facing our world and coming generations. The UAE will continue to be a strong advocate for elevating the inclusivity of international platforms and multilateral forums, including the G20, to ensure that the concerns and views of the least developed countries and small island developing states are equitably addressed.
Drawing on the theme of the Indian Presidency – One Earth, One Family, One Future – and as the host country of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UAE aims to play a pivotal role in driving climate action and environmental priorities throughout the G20 process. This includes mobilising G20 support for UAE-led climate initiatives, including the Mangrove Alliance for Climate and the Global Alliance on Green Economy, as well as working with COP28 participants to triple the world’s renewable energy capacity and double the production of hydrogen by 2030.
FOCUS ON ALIGNMENT
The UAE, as a G20 guest, will also focus on further enhancing alignment between the G20 and COP28 agendas. The UAE has offered to host a number of different G20 events and meetings that may take place alongside international events slated to be held in the UAE in 2023, including COP28.
The key objectives that the UAE COP28 presidency is seeking to achieve in coordination with the G20 and broader international community include keeping the 1.5°C goal alive, devising a clear action plan for the Global Stocktake, accelerating emissions reductions, and supporting the most vulnerable countries and communities around the world.
Other UAE priorities in the G20 include food and energy security, energy transition, development cooperation and health. Certainly, the pandemic underscored the critical need to fortify trade, transportation and logistics networks through increased international cooperation and future-oriented strategic partnerships. The UAE also supports the three health priorities set out by the Indian presidency related to health emergencies prevention, preparedness and response, with the aim of strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, and digital health innovations.
Initiatives undertaken by the UAE in the fields of food and energy security include the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform, the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate in partnership with the United States, and the UAE’s commitment to investing $50 billion in global renewable projects over the next decade.
As part of its foreign policy strategy, the UAE aims to achieve enduring G20 contributions, and UAE entities are seeking permanent membership in their working and engagement groups. Our membership in various G20 initiatives, such as the Pandemic Fund, is expanding, and the UAE’s engagement with the G20 troika of the past presidency, current presidency and incoming presidency on key priorities is gaining further momentum in the form of new partnerships and enhanced coordination.
The Indian and Indonesian G20 presidencies have been exemplary in leading organisational and coordination efforts among members, guest countries and institutions. Notably, the Indian presidency has enhanced the inclusivity of priorities and participation by establishing a working group on disaster risk reduction in the sherpa track and organising the Voice of Global South Summit. The UAE also deeply appreciates efforts by the Indonesian presidency to involve the UAE’s perspective in the 2022 process and advance action on key issues such as clean energy and food security.
With Brazil assuming the G20 presidency in December, the UAE sees renewed opportunities for cooperation on existing and future priorities. The ambitious environmental agenda of Brazil, home of the largest rainforest worldwide, sets high expectations for the G20 summit in 2024. Inspired by the achievements of previous G20 presidencies, the UAE remains eager to contribute to the global agenda on food security, energy, health and climate change while forging mutually beneficial partnerships that will serve our countries and continue to uplift our peoples.
