The UAE delegation headed by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, attended the opening session of the Conference of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), being held in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Tuesday.
The session was chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco and was attended by a number of heads of states and governments and by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon.
Sheikh Mansour thanked the government and people of the Kingdom of Morocco for hosting this important event to tackle climate change issues and to put in place an effective mechanism for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The UAE's active presence in the conference reflected the leadership's willingness to build bridges of co-operation and constructive partnership with the international community, to address the challenges facing the world and to provide innovative solutions in all sectors related to climate change and environment protection, he said.
"As part of its vision for the post-oil phase, the UAE has embarked on a drive to build a diversified and sustainable economy,' Sheikh Mansour said.
He underlined the efforts being made by the country to spread awareness among the youth and preparing them as future leaders of the development programs that place priority in the environment.
The Marrakech conference provides a common platform for the countries of the world to discuss climate change and to step up global efforts to mitigate its impact, Sheikh Mansour noted.
He praised the joint efforts of Morocco and the UN to organize the conference.
The session was attended by the members of delegation accompanying Sheikh Mansour, and included Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President; Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Ali Ibrahim Al Hossani, Advisor at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court.