Japan and UAE Focus on Climate Change Discussions Ahead of COP28

During a visit to the UAE, host of this year's UN climate talks, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed clean energy cooperation with top officials on Jul 17.

Kishida's trip to the UAE, which will host COP28 in November-December, is the first by a Japanese prime minister since the late Shinzo Abe in 2020.

Japan imports almost all of its crude oil, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar providing the majority of its supplies.

However, as the oil-producing Gulf states shift to cleaner energy sources, particularly ahead of COP28, Japan hopes to offer its greener and renewable energy technologies to help them decarbonize.

Kishida flew in from Saudi Arabia, where he met de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday. After talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, he will head to Qatar on Tuesday.

On July 17, Sheikh Mohammed said he held "fruitful and constructive discussions" with Kishida in Abu Dhabi on "developing bilateral relations and advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries".

The leaders "affirmed the commitment of both countries to enhancing cooperation on climate action, decarbonisation efforts, and clean energy in the lead-up to COP28", according to a joint statement carried by the COP28 team.

The Japanese premier later met with COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber, who is also the head of the UAE oil giant ADNOC.