COP28 Presidency and New York University Abu Dhabi to cooperate on youth engagement

The incoming Presidency of the 28^th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).

Signed by H.E. Amb. Majid Al Suwaidi, Director General and Special Representative of COP28, and Mariët Westermann, NYU Abu Dhabi Vice Chancellor, this MoU will foster cooperation between the two entities on knowledge-sharing activities, public programming focused on climate action, and enhanced youth engagement opportunities in the lead up to the UAE-hosted UN Climate Change conference.

NYU Abu Dhabi will support the organization of a University Task Force comprising UAE-based universities and higher education institutes to collaborate on facilitating dialogues, workshops, public events and youth participation ahead of COP28.NYUAD’s world class research is conducted through multiple centers and laboratories, including the Water Research Center and Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS).

In addition, NYUAD will host the global Student Energy Summit 2023, organized by NYUAD’s student leaders and hosted in both the university campus and the Dubai Expo city. It will also develop public programming and youth engagement opportunities leading up to and during COP28, led by entities such as The Arts Center, The Art Gallery, and The Institute at NYU Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, Director-General, COP28, said, “The UAE recognizes that the young people of today will be the climate leaders of tomorrow, and is committed to raising climate awareness within the country and across the world. The COP28 Presidency’s partnership with NYU Abu Dhabi is an important step towards engaging with the academic community and our youth, while ensuring open and inclusive dialogue at COP28, while the expertise provided by the university will help drive a constructive and solutions-oriented approach to climate action.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Mariët Westermann, Vice Chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi, added: “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and our path forward must be charted through collaboration between universities, governments, businesses, and civil society organizations. We must recognize the world’s youth as the most critical stakeholders in this collective work. Today's MoU signing with COP28 marks an important step towards turning this vision into a reality. Here at NYU Abu Dhabi, we are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the research, teaching, and actions of our faculty and staff, and our students, who are profoundly committed to a sustainable future change. With this MoU between NYU Abu Dhabi and COP28 and the UAE's Year of Sustainability, we will offer even more transformative courses and research on climate change and climate awareness and help drive sustainable growth in the UAE as the country gears up to host COP28."

As the host country of COP28, the UAE is committed to multilateral cooperation and an inclusive process that brings together emerging economies with developed nations, civil society, and business to achieve the solutions and the pace of change required.