Cairo: Delegated by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Eng. Salim Nassir Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, took part in the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) 2022.

The session is being held in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh from 6-18 November 2022.

Al Aufi said that the Sultanate of Oman’s participation in this important event stems from its conviction in the significance of endorsing coordinated measures in partnership with the world to reduce global warming to levels below 2 degrees Celsius, namely the endorsement of the Paris Agreement by 196 countries, which became effective 4 November 2016 at a time the world is set to reach the peak of global greenhouse gas emissions.

He added that the pact also aims to achieve a climate-emission-neutral world by mid-century, as various countries have pledged to provide nationally-determined contributions in order to ensure energy transition and mitigated emissions.

Oman took major steps forward in cutting down carbon emissions by declaring commitment to meet carbon neutrality in 2050 and establishing the Oman Sustainability Centre—based on the outputs of the Carbon Management Laboratory—and announcing the launch of the national strategy for an orderly transition to the carbon neutrality plan, besides launching the National Environmental Policy for Energy, Al Aufi said.

Al Aufi announced the start of the pre-qualification phase for investors wishing to participate in the first round of investment opportunities in green hydrogen production projects through the platform of Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom) company.

Oman’s pavilion at this conference discussed climate change, carbon neutrality, investment in the green energy sector, and other related topics.

The summit is part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international treaty signed by most countries of the world with the aim of reducing human activity’s impact on the climate. The participating countries pledged to return to the meeting this year, to agree on further reduction of rates of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions in a manner that keeps the rise in global heat within less than 2°C.

The conference envisages four main goals: mitigation, adaptation, financing and cooperation of countries concerned to help limit global warming within less than 2°C and and to keep the 1.5°C target alive.

Oman accords attention to energy transformation in line with the world to reduce carbon emissions. It is also working to promote local value-added policies, localise industries related to the renewable energy and hydrogen sector, enable strategic studies, research and development and to enhance community awareness of clean energy.