ABU DHABI, UAE, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- President His
Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan today bestowed the First Class Order of Zayed II on
several global dignitaries in recognition of their contributions to
the success of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) hosted by the UAE late last year.
During the ceremony held in Abu
Dhabi, His Highness expressed his gratitude to all
recipients for their sincere efforts that contributed to the
success of COP28 and resulted in the
historic UAE Consensus that has become a key framework for global
climate action and sustainability.
His Highness emphasised that the legacy of sustainability
established by the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is a
cornerstone of the UAE's efforts to support sustainability, promote
effective climate action, and ensure equitable economic and social
development for a better future for humanity.
He praised the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by the world
during COP28 and the unity of nations
in addressing one of the most pressing global challenges. His
Highness reiterated the UAE's commitment to enhancing international
cooperation and its constructive role in advancing climate action
to find practical solutions to climate challenges by leveraging the
achievements of COP28.
The ceremony was attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh
Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al
Nahyan, Adviser for Special Affairs at the Presidential
Court; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al
Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and
COP28 President; Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the
National Media Office (NMO), and a number of officials.
The event also honoured the late Prof. Saleemul Huq, a member of
the COP28 Presidency Advisory
Committee. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan presented the award to Prof. Huq's wife,
son, and daughter in recognition of his distinguished efforts and
contributions to operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund.
Prof.
The honourees of the First Class Order of Zayed II were:
- Dan Jørgensen, Minister for Development Cooperation and
Global Climate Policy, Denmark,
was part of the Global Stocktake ministerial pair, which
contributed to consultations with Negotiating Groups and
Parties.
- Yasmine Fouad, Minister of
Environment, Egypt, was a vocal
advocate of the UAE and COP28
Presidency, as well as part of the finance ministerial pair, which
contributed to consultations with Negotiating Groups and
Parties.
- Dr. Muawieh Radaideh, Minister
of Environment, Jordan, was a respected COP28 Presidency Advisory Committee member who
advocated for COP28 among
parties.
- Alioune Ndoye, Former Minister
of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Ecology Transition,
Senegal, and Chair of the Least
Developed Countries Negotiating Group, supported in garnering
inputs and support among the most climate-vulnerable countries on
the UAE Consensus outcomes.
- Ruslan Edelgeriev, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate,
Russia, provided key support in
driving consensus on the Global Stocktake and negotiated
outcomes.
- Ambassador Pedro Luis Pedroso
Cuesta, former Chairman of G77 and China, Cuba,
was a strong supporter of COP28 and
played a critical role in unifying the G77 and China around COP28 draft negotiated outcomes, especially the
Global Stocktake.
- Ambassador Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr. Pa'olelei Luteru,
Permanent Representative to UN, Samoa, and Chair of the Alliance of Small
Island States, helped to ensure small island developing states'
input and support in the final decisions, particularly on
mitigation and Loss and Damage.
- Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy
for Climate Action, was a supportive partner to the UAE,
particularly concerning the delivery of key Presidential Action
Agenda outcomes across climate finance and energy.
- Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO,
Sustainable Markets Initiative, was a firm advocate of COP28 and facilitated the engagement of senior
government leaders.
- Kate Hampton, CEO, Children's
Investment Fund Foundation, was a COP28 Presidency Advisory Committee member who
provided valuable advice in the lead-up to and during COP28.
- Badr Jafar, CEO, Crescent Enterprises, was a dedicated
COP28 Presidency Advisory Committee
member and Special Representative for Business and Philanthropy who
mobilised multistakeholder engagement at the Business &
Philanthropy Climate Forum to advance net zero and nature-positive
goals.
- Ajay Banga, President of the
World Bank Group, was a firm advocate for the UAE in the
lead-up to the climate conference, especially on advancing climate
finance outcomes and reform of the international financial
system.
- Larry Fink, Co-founder, Chairman
and CEO of BlackRock, was a valued COP28 Presidency Advisory Committee member who
provided counsel to COP28 in the
run-up to the conference and beyond.
- Dr. Vera Songwe, Chair and
Founder of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility, as a leading
figure in macroeconomics and debt issues was instrumental in
helping COP28 deliver the Global
Climate Finance Framework and climate finance outcomes.
- Hindou Ibrahim, President of the Association for Indigenous
Women and Peoples of Chad, was a
committed member of the COP28
Presidency Advisory Committee.
- Prof. Carlos Lopes, Chair of the
African Climate Foundation Board, was a valued member of the
COP28 Presidency Advisory Committee
who lent his esteemed support and guidance to COP28.
- Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green
Revolution in Africa, provided her
valuable expertise on food systems transformation and supported the
delivery of the COP28
UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food
Systems and Climate Action.
- Fatih Birol, Executive Director
of the International Energy Agency, was a supportive partner to
COP28 and mobilised global
cooperation and co-convened four high-level energy dialogues in the
lead-up to COP28.
- Prof. Saleemul Huq, a passionate advocate for addressing
climate challenges affecting the world's most vulnerable, was
posthumously honoured. He passed away at 71 in October 2023, with his wife, Kashana, and son and
daughter accepting the award from His Highness the President.
- Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, former President of Iceland, provided political guidance and
counsel as a COP28 Presidency
Advisory Committee Member.
- John Kerry, former US
Presidential Climate Envoy, was an active and loyal partner to the
UAE in the lead-up to and during COP28 by enhancing global cooperation and
advocating for COP28.
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