Editor's note: The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is underway in Baku, Azerbaijan. Following the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) historic hosting of COP28 and its commitment to net zero by 2050, what role does the UAE play in supporting COP29 discussions? CGTN conducted a written interview with His Excellency Abdulla Balalaa, the UAE's assistant minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, where he discussed the UAE's vision for COP29 and global climate leadership, the potential of UAE-China collaboration in climate action, among other things.
编者按：《联合国气候变化框架公约》第二十九次缔约方大会（COP29）正在阿塞拜疆首都巴库举行。作为COP28的主办国并在做出到2050年实现净零排放的承诺后，阿联酋在支持COP29议题方面发挥了怎样的作用？CGTN对阿联酋外交部能源与可持续事务助理部长阿卜杜拉·巴拉拉阁下进行了书面采访，巴拉拉阁下阐述了其就阿联酋对COP29及对全球气候领导力的看法，并分享了其对阿联酋与中国在气候行动合作方面的潜力等话题上的看法。
CGTN: Following the UAE's historic hosting of COP28 and its commitment to net zero by 2050, what lessons from that presidency will guide your approach in supporting COP29 discussions? How does the UAE plan to amplify its leadership role in fostering tangible progress on global climate action?
CGTN：阿联酋成功主办了 COP28 并承诺到 2050 年实现净零排放，您认为阿联酋在担任上一任主席国的任期中，有哪些经验教训可以为COP29的讨论提供借鉴？阿联酋将如何加强在推动全球气候行动取得切实进展方面的领导作用？
H.E. Abdulla Balalaa: Last year at COP28 in Dubai, 198 Parties came together to deliver the historic UAE Consensus and usher in a new era of climate action. The Consensus, resulting from a year of inclusive diplomatic engagements and two weeks of intense negotiations, mirrored the COP28 presidency's commitment to provide the most ambitious response to the Global Stocktake and fulfill the core objectives of the Paris Agreement.
阿卜杜拉·巴拉拉：去年在迪拜举行的 COP28 会议上，198 个缔约方齐聚一堂，达成了历史性的“阿联酋共识”，开启了气候行动的新时代。该共识是历经一年的包容性外交斡旋和为期两周的紧张谈判后达成的，体现了 COP28 主席国对“全球盘点”所做出的最雄心勃勃的回应和对实现《巴黎协定》核心目标的承诺。
The COP28 presidency took bold and decisive steps to deliver beyond the negotiated text through its "Action Agenda," which spanned the four pillars of the Paris Agreement: fast-tracking a just and orderly energy transition; fixing climate finance to make it more available, affordable and accessible; focusing on people, nature, lives and livelihoods; and fostering full inclusivity in climate action.
COP28 主席国采取了大胆而果断的措施，通过其“行动议程”，实现了在谈判文本之外的目标。该议程涵盖了《巴黎协定》的四大支柱：快速实现公正有序的能源转型；解决气候融资问题，使其更容易获得、更负担得起、更具可及性；关注人、自然、生命和生计；促进气候行动的全面包容性。
COP29 is a climate action opportunity to enhance our collective global ambitions further, elevate more voices and enable action. Dialogue and international collaboration are vital for building climate resilience as we accelerate action together.
COP29 为聚焦气候行动提供了宝贵平台，旨在进一步推进我们解决气候问题的共同目标，赋予更多人发声的机会，并推动实际行动的开展。在我们携手加速这一进程的关键时刻，开展对话和加强国际合作对于构建气候韧性而言显得尤为重要。
CGTN: Both the UAE and China have demonstrated strong leadership in advancing renewable energy transitions, with landmark projects such as the UAE's Al Dhafrah Solar Power Project and China's global investments in solar and wind energy. How can the UAE and China strengthen collaboration in green hydrogen development, carbon capture technologies and sustainable infrastructure? What role do platforms like COP29 play in fostering this partnership for mutual and global benefit?
CGTN：阿联酋和中国在推进可再生能源转型方面都表现出强大的领导力，典型案例包括由中国企业承建的阿联酋艾尔达芙拉光伏电站这一具有里程碑意义的项目，还有中国在太阳能与风能领域在全球其他地区的大型项目等。阿联酋和中国如何加强在绿色氢能开发、碳捕获技术和可持续基础设施建设等领域的合作？像 COP29 这样的平台在促进这种伙伴关系以实现互利共赢和使全球获益方面发挥了什么作用？
H.E. Abdulla Balalaa: Both the UAE and China enjoy a longstanding and comprehensive partnership. That relationship represents a clear commitment to build on the progress of COP28 and now COP29 for global climate resilience and beyond.
阿卜杜拉·巴拉拉：阿联酋和中国是长期和全面的伙伴关系。这种关系表明双方明确承诺，在 COP28 取得进展和现在正在进行的 COP29 会议基础上，将在（建立）全球气候韧性等方面再接再厉。
The Al Dhafra Solar Project, where Chinese enterprises have played a key role in bringing this "energy oasis" to life, is one example. Generating electricity for hundreds of thousands of Dubai residents helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 2.4 million tons annually. This year, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority unveiled plans to strengthen collaboration with Chinese companies, particularly in catalyst projects. The fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, one of the largest single-site solar parks in the world, commenced commercial cooperation in February 2024 and is expected to reduce 1.6 million tons of carbon emissions every year.
以艾尔达芙拉光伏电站项目为例，中国企业在将这片“能源绿洲”变为现实中发挥了关键作用。该项目为数十万迪拜居民供电，每年可减少二氧化碳排放量高达 240 万吨。今年，迪拜电力和水务局公布了加强与中国企业合作的计划，特别是在“催化剂项目”方面。穆罕默德·本·拉希德·阿勒马克图姆太阳能园区第四期是世界上最大的单站太阳能园区之一，于 2024 年 2 月开始商业合作，预计每年将减少 160 万吨碳排放。
Both the UAE and China are accelerating green and low-carbon development globally, with a focus on emerging economies and the Global South. For instance, China's increase in climate financing for climate-fragile regions through initiatives such as the China South-South Climate Cooperation Fund, is supporting hundreds of climate adaptation and resilience projects.
阿联酋和中国都在全球范围内大力推进绿色与低碳发展，尤其关注新兴经济体和“全球南方”国家的发展情况。例如，中国通过中国气候变化南南合作基金等倡议增加了对气候脆弱地区的气候融资，为众多气候适应性和气候韧性项目提供了有力支持。
Meanwhile, UAE initiatives such as the Global Climate Financial Center and the $30 billion private investment vehicle Alterra – set to mobilize $250 billion in institutional investment by 2030 – seek to finance global climate solutions at scale and guide institutional investors toward impact investments.
与此同时，在阿联酋的倡议下，如全球气候金融中心和规模达 300 亿美元的气候变化行动私人投资工具 Alterra（计划到 2030 年筹集 2500 亿美元的机构投资）寻求为全球气候解决方案提供大规模资金，并引导机构投资者进行能带来实际影响的投资。
These initiatives are emblematic of a strong, shared vision between the UAE and China to establish actionable, global partnerships that drive the energy transition. Furthermore, they demonstrate how both countries can elevate ambitions for climate action through partnership and build a more resilient future through the vitality of collective climate action leadership.
这些举措彰显了阿联酋和中国之间坚定且共同的愿景，即打造切实可行的的全球伙伴关系，以推动能源转型。此外，这些举措还表明了双方如何通过伙伴关系提升气候行动的雄心，以及如何通过集体气候行动领导力共同构建一个更具韧性的未来。
CGTN: The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28 was a major milestone. From the UAE's perspective, what mechanisms should be prioritized to ensure the fund becomes operational and effectively supports vulnerable nations? How can the UAE's experience in climate financing contribute to ensuring its implementation?
CGTN：在 COP28会议上成立了损失和损害基金，这是一个重要里程碑。从阿联酋的角度来看，应优先考虑哪些机制，以确保该基金能够运作并有效支持气候脆弱国家？阿联酋在气候融资方面的经验如何有助于确保其实施？
H.E. Abdulla Balalaa: The historic agreement to operationalize and capitalize funding for the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) emerged on the first day of COP28. It supports those on the frontlines of climate change, with more than $850 million pledged in the first 48 hours of its launch. COP29 sees the FRLD move into the operational phase, accepting contributions for anticipated project financings in 2025.
阿卜杜拉·巴拉拉：第28届联合国气候变化大会第一天，一项旨在实现应对损失与损害基金（FRLD）的资金运作和资本化的历史性协议应运而生。该协议为受气候变化影响最前线的群体提供援助，并在启动后的 48 小时内就已承诺提供约 8.5 亿美元。在 COP29 上，FRLD 进入运营阶段，接受2025 年预期项目融资的捐款。
A view of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, August 31, 2024. /Xinhua
CGTN: As a regional leader and a bridge between developed and developing countries, how can the UAE enhance collaboration among Middle Eastern nations to address shared climate challenges? What specific initiatives might be explored to boost regional resiliency and sustainability?
CGTN：作为地区领导者和发达国家与发展中国家之间的桥梁，阿联酋如何加强中东国家间的合作以应对共同面临的气候挑战？可采取哪些具体举措来提高地区的韧性和可持续性？
H.E. Abdulla Balalaa: The UAE is committed to driving climate action through constructive international collaboration. Climate action can usher in a new era of sustainable economic and social growth, creating a low-carbon future, which is a major focus for our region. We share many similar climate challenges and are constantly exploring avenues to foster greater collaboration on projects throughout the Middle East.
阿卜杜拉·巴拉拉：阿联酋致力于通过建设性的国际合作推动气候行动。气候行动引领可持续经济和社会增长的新时代，创造低碳未来——这是我们关注的重点。我们面临着许多相似的气候挑战，我们也不断探索新路径以促进整个中东地区开展更大的项目合作。
In October this year, the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), hosted an interactive workshop in Dubai. The UAE will host the first Regional Center of Excellence for Transforming Food Systems as a result, designed to accelerate innovation and strategic transformation in food systems across the region.
今年 10 月，阿联酋气候变化和环境部与联合国粮食及农业组织 (FAO) 合作，在迪拜举办了一场互动研讨会。阿联酋还将主办首个区域性食品安全卓越中心，旨在加速整个地区食品体系的创新和战略转型。
We also look forward to participating in the upcoming 16th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and working together through regional partnerships to reduce and reverse land degradation, catalyze land restoration, strengthen biodiversity conservation, and ensure water security.
我们还期待参加即将在沙特阿拉伯利雅得举行的《联合国防治荒漠化公约》缔约方会议第 十六届会议，并通过区域伙伴关系共同努力减少和扭转土地退化，促进土地恢复，加强生物多样性保护及确保水资源安全。
CGTN: With water resiliency emerging as a critical issue in the face of climate change, what innovative strategies is your country employing to enhance sustainable water management? How can these solutions be adapted for global application, especially in other arid and semi-arid regions?
CGTN：面对气候变化，水资源韧性已成为一个关键问题，阿联酋正采取哪些创新战略来加强可持续水资源管理？这些解决方案能如何适配全球应用，特别是在其他干旱和半干旱地区？
H.E. Abdulla Balalaa: The UAE has had a unique relationship with water since its earliest days. The UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 aims to reuse 95 percent of treated water and supply over 75 percent of drinking water through reverse osmosis by 2036. Signature initiatives, such as the Taweelah Reverse Osmosis facility in Abu Dhabi and the Hassyan sea water desalination project, are actively using low-carbon technologies and renewable energy, such as solar, to provide high-quality water while preserving pivotal resources.
阿卜杜拉·巴拉拉：阿联酋自建国之初便与水有着不解之缘。《2036年阿联酋水安全战略》的目标是到 2036 年实现95%的废水再利用，并通过反渗透技术提供 75% 以上的饮用水。阿布扎比的塔维勒反渗透设施和哈斯彦海水淡化项目等标志性举措正在积极利用低碳技术和太阳能等可再生能源，在保护关键资源的同时提供高质量用水。
In Dubai last year, 198 countries and regions emphasized the critical importance of water at COP28, from protecting freshwater ecosystems, enhancing urban water resilience, to transforming food systems. Forty-seven countries, along with the European Union, also joined the UAE in the launch of the Freshwater Challenge, committing to protect and restore 30 percent of degraded freshwater ecosystems by 2030. These programs demonstrate how water innovations with a holistic global approach can bring together experts, innovators, and community leaders to co-create vital solutions.
去年在迪拜举行的 COP28 会议上，198个国家和地区强调了水资源的重要性，涉及保护淡水生态系统、增强城市水资源韧性到粮食系统转型等多个方面。同时，有47个国家和欧盟与阿联酋一同发起了“淡水挑战”倡议，承诺到 2030年保护和恢复 30% 的退化淡水生态系统。这些项目表明，通过采用全球整体式推进的方法推动水务创新，能够汇聚专家、创新者和社区领袖，共同构思重要解决方案。
In this regard, the UAE and Senegal will co-host the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference, bringing together a variety of diverse voices, from governments to indigenous communities and the private sector, to explore ways to implement Sustainable Development Goal 6 with access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
就此，阿联酋和塞内加尔将共同主办联合国2026年水事会议，汇集来自政府、土著社区和私营部门等各方不同的声音，探讨如何实施联合国可持续发展目标的第6项，从而确保人人能够获得安全用水、环卫设施和良好卫生条件。
