The Sultanate of Oman is gearing up for the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan in November. The Environment Authority of Oman recently held a media briefing to discuss the country’s participation in COP29, which aims to showcase national efforts in various areas such as climate action, environmental protection, biodiversity, sustainable tourism, and attracting investment.
Ibrahim Ahmed Al Ajmi, Advisor to the Chairman of the Environment Authority, highlighted the importance of Oman’s participation in COP29. He stressed the country’s commitment to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and enhancing climate action and sustainable development plans. Oman’s participation in COP29 will focus on themes such as carbon neutrality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate change adaptation projects, food security, and energy transformation initiatives.
The negotiation topics for Oman at COP29 will include global climate finance, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the global goal of adaptation, national adaptation plans, loss and damage, just transition and response measures, as well as capacity building and technology transfer. The country’s participation will also focus on promoting Oman Climate Week, the Global Environmental Performance Index, environment and biodiversity conservation, energy transformation projects, tree planting initiatives, blue carbon, and sustainable cities.
Eng. Mohammed Khalfan Al Shuaili, Deputy Head of the Oman Pavilion team at the conference, emphasized that Oman’s participation will highlight the country’s efforts in climate action, energy transformation, environmental protection, biodiversity, and sustainable growth. The participation aims to attract investment opportunities and sustainable financing in hydrogen and clean energy, biodiversity, and sustainable transportation. The work plan for participation involves holding preparatory meetings and coordinating efforts between relevant institutions to ensure a unified approach.
Oman will also make history by participating in COP29 with a youth team for the first time. The youth team’s tasks include devising a plan to highlight and empower Omani youth in climate change issues. They will represent Omani youth in discussion sessions, address challenges and solutions related to climate change, exchange ideas with youth from other countries, present youth projects focusing on sustainability and conservation, and organize workshops to raise awareness about climate issues.
At the media briefing, Eng. Nabil Al Lawati of the negotiating team presented a visual presentation on the topics to be discussed in the negotiating sessions. Additionally, the Environment Authority unveiled the theme and logo of the pavilion, which symbolizes Oman’s commitment to a sustainable future. COP29 represents a step forward in global efforts to combat climate change, following the outcomes of COP28 in the UAE and COP27 in Egypt, as well as the preparations made during the Bonn Conference (SB60) for the upcoming COP conference.
