Nairobi(Mogadishu24)-The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, held discussions with her counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, Mariam Almheiri, to enhance cooperation between the two countries through environmental issues and climate change.

Both ministers are currently participating in the African Climate Summit, aimed to address climate change vulnerabilities in Africa, taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.

They also discussed the preparations for the upcoming United Nations Annual Conference on Climate Change (COP28), scheduled to be held in the UAE later this month.

“Had a fruitful meeting with Mariam Almheiri, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change of UAE on the sidelines of AfricaClimateSummit23 in Nairobi. We discussed the bilateral relations between our countries and the UAE’s preparations to host COP28,” said Hon. Khadija Makzoumi Somalia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Ms. Mariam Almheiri, the Environment Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), also stated that the discussions included the strengthening of bilateral relations between the UAE and Somalia, the innovative Mangrove Alliance initiative, and the preparations underway in the UAE for the imminent COP28.

“I was pleased to meet HE Khadija Makhzumi Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Somalia, during Africa Climate Summit 2023 to discuss the bilateral relations between the UAE and Somalia, the Mangrove Alliance initiative, and the UAE’s preparations to host COP28,” Said Ms. Mariam Almheiri, UAE’s Environment Minister.

The three-day conference, set to continue until September 6th, was attended by African leaders, officials from international organizations, and the US President’s special envoy for climate issues, John Kerry.

During this summit, The leaders will formulate the ‘Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change’ to increase greening initiatives and investments in African countries facing the challenges of climate change.

The African Union and international partners are collaborating on the implementation of this plan to mitigate the effects of climate change. A platform is being created to facilitate the exchange of ideas between African countries and the international community.

Kenya, the host of the summit, is considered one of the African countries making progress in preventing climate change, alongside South Africa and Morocco.

This year, Kenya has allocated approximately $12 million for meteorological services and is actively working to improve its environment and protect wildlife.

The federal government of Somalia has taken measures to combat climate change and environmental degradation by launching a national plan for a green Somalia initiative, aiming to plant 10 million trees within the country.