The Head of Trade, Economic, and Political Section of the Embassy of the UAE in Ghana, Mikdad Mohammed, has called for a transformative shift in the global climate agenda in order to effectively address the challenge.

In a keynote address that was delivered on his behalf at the Pre-COP28 UAE National Youth Summit, Mr Mohammed highlighted the numerous times world leaders have converged to discuss the climate change issue.

While progress has been made, he acknowledged that the outcomes have been varied and that the world is still far from achieving its net-zero emissions goals.

In view of that, Mr Mohammed believed the urgency to act on climate change is now more critical than ever.

“If a world is to change course, it needs to rethink, reboot, and refocus the global climate agenda. Global policymakers have convened 27 times over the past three decades and the results and outcomes have been diverse.

“For us in the UAE, COP28 is to be a COP of action,” he told participants on Wednesday.

The Head of Trade, Economic, and Political Sections further underscored the UAE's commitment to ensuring that COP28 is a success, setting the stage for concrete measures and solutions that can help the world combat climate change and its detrimental effects on the planet and its inhabitants.

“As the host of COP28, the UAE recognizes its pivotal role and responsibility in bringing diverse communities together to collectively strive for a safer and more sustainable climate world.”

On her part, the Head of Climate Change and Policy Programme at Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND), Patience Agyekum said despite the numerous problems associated with climate change, it presents opportunities.

According to her, these prospects could be capitalised on by the youth.

She, however, noted that it is important for the youth to understand what climate change really entails.

“All these conversations and discussions about climate change is leading the world in a certain direction. Now there is a lot of awareness on sustainability, so the way we used to do things at first ought to change. A typical example is the forms of energy that we use, we have to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and in this transition, and there will be new jobs and opportunities that will emerge.

“In the energy sector, there are now people who can go into solar business so it is important right from the onset, young people get to understand what the challenge is and the opportunities that lies ahead,” she said.