With COP28 around the corner, the question that looms large is whether the world’s leaders will rise to the occasion and take bold, decisive actions to address the pressing challenges of climate change.

In this episode of the Anticipate Podcast, Dana Darwish, ESG Advisory Consultant, and Maitha Alremeithi, Graduate Consultant – Sustainable Development and Healthy Living at WSP in the Middle East, are joined by a distinguished guest, Raidan AlSaqqaf, Economist and Technical Lead for COP28 preparations at the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s office for the UAE. The episode pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of COP28 and the intricate web of climate agreements and disagreements. It also uncovers some of the untold stories propelling the fight against climate change and explores the potential for transformative change.

The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office shoulders the responsibility of coordinating UN engagements with their counterparts in the UAE, the designated host country for COP28. It also supports the UAE in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Unable to listen to the full episode? Fast-forward to the key discussion points via the players above:

01:10 – Raidan AlSaqqaf’s’s career and impactful work at the United Nations (UN)

02:22 – The UN’s vital role in facilitating international cooperation for a sustainable future

03:44 – The UN’s efforts to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change

06:41 – The inner working of COP28 and how COPs are managed by the UN

10:01 – The key differences between COP28 and its predecessors

11:56 –  The desired outcomes of COP28

14:40 – The current status of climate finance globally and regionally

18:48 – Climate finance actions for the global south

23:09 – The instrumental role of the private sector in the fight against climate change

28:10 – What do we foresee to happen after COP28?

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