High-Level Climate Champions launch MENA Climate Week Programme

By Climate Champions | March 10, 2022

The UN High-Level Climate Champions are excited to launch their programme for the first-ever Middle East and North Africa Regional Climate Week. They will convene a series of events to rapidly accelerate the delivery and implementation of ambitious climate action this year in the run up to COP27.

MENA Climate Week 2022 provides a platform for governments, cities, private sector leaders, financial institutions and civil society to advance collaborative climate action in the region through deep dialogue and engagement.

At MENA Climate Week in Dubai this year, the UN High-Level Climate Champions will provide an overview of their plans for 2022, marking the first public appearance for the incoming Egypt High-Level Climate Champion for COP27, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, alongside Nigel Topping, UK High-Level Climate Champion for COP26.

The two Champions will use this opportunity to share their priorities for the year, representing the first activation of the 5 year Plan for the Improved Marrakech Partnership, which was welcomed by countries at COP26 in Glasgow last November.

Alongside regional non state actors, they will outline their strategy for 2022 and discuss the importance of accelerating action on mitigation, adaptation, and climate finance, as well as reflecting on the role of non state actors in contributing to the upcoming Global Stocktake in 2023.

This will happen as part of the Regionalization Workshop of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, being held on Tuesday March 29, 2pm – 6pm local time. This will bring together key stakeholders to take the pulse of climate action in the region, explore climate challenges and opportunities and showcase ambitious solutions within the context of the flagship Race to Resilience and Race to Zero climate action campaigns.

The Climate Champions’ programme also includes a Marrakech Partnership Implementation Lab on water and strengthening resilience on Monday March 28, 4.30pm – 6.30pm local time. This event — discussing how recycled water can play a critical role in supporting climate resilience building for water and food security in the MENA region — will convene a range of critical regional stakeholders for an open and solutions-oriented exchange, enabling policymakers and non state actors to engage in deep dialogue to identify key areas for radical collaboration moving forwards.

Race to Resilience at MENA Climate Week

Climate resilience will be firmly on the agenda across all programming at MENA Climate Week. In addition to the urban water resilience implementation lab, the Race to Resilience and Partners will be hosting a series of NSA led side-events focusing on building climate resilience to the unique needs of the MENA region.

On the March 29 (Day 2), 12:00-13:00  ICLEI and the Cities Race to Resilience initiative will lead a local-government led session on turning commitments toward a 1.5 degree resilient world into actions which can be scaled.

On the March 30 (Day 3), 09:00-10:00, the Race to Resilience and Global Resilience Partnership will bring together the value chain of the Race to Resilience and Global Resilience Partnership will be taking forward the outcomes of the COP26 Resilience Hub with a session on mobilizing finance for locally-led resilience action in MENA.

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