Turkish President Erdogan to visit UAE to attend UN Climate Change Conference

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Nov. 30-Dec. 1 to attend UN Climate Change Conference, COP28.

"At the summit, it is planned to exchange views at the leadership level on various issues such as environmental problems, energy, food and health, especially policies to combat climate change," Türkiye's Communications Directorate said in a statement on Wednesday.

Erdogan will address the conference on Dec. 1, and he is also expected to hold talks with the heads of state and government of some participating countries on the sidelines of the conference.

The UAE is set to host this year’s conference between Nov. 30 and Dec. 12, with the aim of keeping the Paris Agreement warming target of 1.5C (2.7F) alive.

Türkiye is among the countries making the most significant contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement with its 2053 net zero emissions and green development targets.

Ankara works for a cleaner and greener Türkiye by implementing many projects, including a zero-waste initiative.

In 2017, under the auspices of first lady Emine Erdogan, Türkiye launched the zero-waste project to highlight the importance of eliminating waste in fighting the climate crisis.

The project has drawn international praise, with UN chief Antonio Guterres expressing his gratitude to the first lady during a conference in New York last September.

Last December, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on the zero waste initiative presented by Türkiye, declaring March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste.