Two deputies at UAE climate change event
TWO Guernsey politicians have travelled to Dubai to represent Guernsey at COP28, the United Nations Climate Conference, which starts today.
‘The conferences are the world’s highest decision-making body on climate issues and one of the largest international meetings in the world,’ said a States spokesman.
‘Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq will be present as the minister for external relations and Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez will be attending as minister for Environment & Infrastructure. They will be supported by two officers.’
The Guernsey Press asked how the local group was travelling to the UAE, but this was not answered. Instead it was noted that the event itself was being carbon offset, and this included international travel to the event.
Four representatives from Guernsey Finance will also be attending. It is also understood there is representation from the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.
This is the 28th annual meeting of governments worldwide to discuss how to limit and prepare for future climate change. It runs until 12 December.
Delegates will look to find further agreements to limiting long-term global temperature rises to 1.5C.
This was agreed by nearly 200 countries in Paris in 2015.
The delegation from Guernsey will be attending various themed sessions on the economy and financial services as well as adaption, energy, transport, health, the built environment and education.
The UK Pavilion will be hosting an event on the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, which will include Deputy de Sausmarez on the panel.
She is also a panellist for an event hosted by Climate Action and Island Innovation, speaking on the circular economy in Guernsey, along with a representative of Guernsey Finance.
Deputies de Sausmarez and Le Tocq’s attendance also forms part of the final stages of extending the Paris Agreement to Guernsey, which is one of the Government Work Plan objectives.
Holding the event in the UAE has proved controversial as it is one of the world’s top 10 oil producers, and the man appointed president of the COP28 talks, is the chief executive of the state-owned oil company, Sultan al-Jaber, whose oil company plans to expand production.
UK media reports have suggested the UAE planned to use its role as host to strike oil and gas deals.
