COP28

The tallest solar power tower in the world at 260 metres is pictured at the concentrated solar thermal power (CST) Noor Energy 1 solar complex at Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park, about 50 kilometres south of Dubai, on July 19, 2025. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE’s Masdar secures $1.1B for 2 GW Saudi solar megaproject: What to know

The Al Sadawi Independent Power Producer (IPP) Project is set to be one of the largest solar plants in the world, according to Masdar.

United Arab Emirates

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Jerusalem wildfires rage for second day as environmental groups blame Netanyahu

According to Israeli environmental groups, the government has repeatedly ignored calls to prepare for the threat of fires and to take more decisive action on climate change goals.

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Exclusive

Global renewables surge forward despite Trump’s climate reversals, says IRENA chief

Although Gulf countries are still heavily reliant on oil and gas, they are quickly moving toward a greener system, International Renewable Energy Agency head Francesco La Camera told Al-Monitor.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

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Analysis

Despite green energy deal blitz, Middle Eastern climate efforts fell flat in 2024

This year saw significant progress in the Middle East and North Africa's renewable energy growth, but the transition from fossil fuels remains an elusive goal.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

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Even with MBS absent, Saudi Arabia and UAE poised to make deals at G20

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Middle East businesses lack clear climate guidelines, WEF report warns

A flare stack burns excess emissions at the Algiers refinery complex in the Algerian capital's southeastern suburb of Baraki, on Feb. 24, 2022.

Masdar acquisition of Terra-Gen stake builds on UAE-US renewable energy ties

An Emirati man walks in front of the stand of Masdar City at the World Future Energy Summit exhibition in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 18, 2012.

United Arab Emirates

GCC’s renewable energy push pays off with Qatar, UAE taking lead

Men wearing thawbs walk past a billboard promoting the transition to renewable energies at the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference the day before its official opening on November 29, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The COP28 is bringing together stakeholders, including international heads of state and other leaders, scientists, environmentalists, indigenous peoples representatives, activists and others to discuss and agree on the implementation of global measures towards mitigating the effects of climate c

Newly elected President of the Sixth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 6), Morocco's Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali (L) adresses delegates at the 50th anniversary of the UN Environment Program (UNEP) in Nairobi on March 3, 2022 - The world has a "historic" opportunity to address plastic pollution by starting discussions in early March on a treaty to regulate this phenomenon that chokes biodiversity, according to the Executive Director of the UNEP, Inger Andersen (Photo

Davos 2024: Green ammonia expansion integral to Morocco’s new hydrogen economy, minister says

Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali told Al-Monitor in an interview that the COP28 declaration marked the first time an emergence of more inclusive messaging has been seen in official climate text.

A picture taken on November 23, 2016 shows smoke plumes rising behind a billboard at the Maaden Aluminium Factory in Ras Al-Khair Industrial area near Jubail City, 570 kms east of the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Middle East transparency on carbon emissions lags behind rest of world

Turkey and the UAE led the pack for most transparent countries in the region regarding greenhouse gas emissions.

United Arab Emirates

COP28 conclusion

COP28: historic deal agreed for world to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels

The summit stretched into prolonged negotiations over the terminology of the final text, after the “phase out” of fossil fuels was omitted from the draft a day before the scheduled end of the event.

United Arab Emirates

In this handout image supplied by COP28, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (L3), President of the Federative Republic of Brazil and Marina Silva (L2), Minister of the Environment, Joko Widodo (R2), President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E Razan Al Mubarak (R1), President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Climate Change of Brazil and His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber (R3), COP28 President during the Nature Season at Al Waha Theatre during day two of the high-level segment of the UNFCCC CO

After US, India, UAE, World Economic Forum expects Brazil to enter green coalition

India, the UAE and the United States are part of the First Movers Coalition, a green alliance that Rob van Riet, senior adviser at the WEF's Center for Nature and Climate, told Al-Monitor he hoped Brazil will be the next to join.

United Arab Emirates

High-level segment of the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference at Expo City Dubai on Dec. 2, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power to develop green hydrogen project in Indonesia

Green hydrogen has potential environmental benefits as well as drawbacks and is being pursued by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states.

Kamala Harris

The COP28 scorecard: US leads methane charge, China to slash emissions

COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber also announced a deal to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry, with ExxonMobil and Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil firm Aramco being among the 50 businesses that signed up.

United Arab Emirates

IMF

IMF chief urges governments to increase carbon prices, reduce fossil fuel subsidies

Kristalina Georgieva was addressing an audience of business leaders and philanthropists at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

United Arab Emirates

António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Türkiye and His Highness Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi during the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 at Expo City Dubai on Dec. 1, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Gaza overshadows COP28 as Turkey’s Erdogan blasts ’Israeli aggression'

The leaders of Iraq, Jordan and Turkey acknowledged the plight of the Palestinians, which took the attention off the country's climate targets.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli President Isaac Herzog meets with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the COP28 UN climate conference in Dubai, Dec. 1, 2023.

In first, Israeli-Qatari handshake at COP28 as Herzog cancels speech

A climate summit photo of Herzog and the Qatari leader marks the first time the emir has publicly shaken hands with an Israeli official, as their countries don’t have official diplomatic relations.

COP27 and COP28 presidents

COP28 opens in UAE amid intense scrutiny over fossil fuel links

A breakthrough was made on the first day of the UN climate summit as world leaders established a loss and damage fund to help developing countries adapt to climate change.

United Arab Emirates

COP28

Interview

IEA calls COP28 'big opportunity' to slash methane emissions

In an interview with Al-Monitor, the International Energy Agency's chief energy economist, Tim Gould, said the climate summit should focus on methane as well as climate finance for the developing world.

Tim Gould

Tim Gould

Chief Energy Economist of the International Energy Agency

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UAE’s Masdar opens world’s largest single-site solar plant ahead of COP28

The Al Dhafra solar plant spans more than 12 square miles of desert.

United Arab Emirates