The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has abbounced new dates for the first-ever Middle East and North Africa Climate Week, MENACW 2022.
Originally planned to begin in February, the recent surge in Omicron variant cases required the in-person meeting to be delayed. MENACW 2022 is now scheduled to be held from March 28 to 31 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to the government of the United Arab Emirates, the COVID-19 figures in the country have declined and UAE is gradually lifting COVID-19 restrictions to reach full capacity at venues. The last week of March is also a key week, being the last week of EXPO Dubai and will see the hosting of numerous other high-profile events in the city.
According to the UNFCCC, MENACW 2022 is an opportunity for governments, the private sector, cities, indigenous communities, youth and civil society to engage in solution-oriented dialogue, find common ground and collaborate on climate action.
MENACW 2022 is also described as a key opportunity to advance implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact adopted at November’s COP26 and to carry regional momentum forward to COP27 in Egypt.
MENACW 2022 is being hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates – Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) and the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). The event is organised in collaboration with core partners UN Climate Change, UN Development Programme, UN Environment Programme and the World Bank Group.
Partners based in MENA include the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the League of Arab States (LAS) Secretariat, and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA).
MENACW 2022 is part of the Regional Climate Weeks 2022 series, with meetings scheduled in Latin America and the Caribbean (LACCW 2022), Asia-Pacific (APCW 2022) and Africa (ACW 2022).
