DUBAI, 18 December 2021 (WAM). Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri was the Minister of Climate Change and Environment. She toured the Panama Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The theme was An introduction to the endless possibilities in Panama.
Any Lam Chong (Director of the Panama Pavilion) welcomed Minister of Climate Change and the Environment and accompanied the minister on the tour.
The Minister took a virtual reality cruise on Panama Canal to experience a journey through the man-made wonder. The Panama Canal, a major waterway for international maritime commerce, is an ideal gateway for UAE businesses to Latin America.
The Minister met with officials responsible for the Panama Pavilion to discuss topics related environmental protection.
They gave her a briefing on the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution, in which it pledges to reduce its energy sector emissions by 11.5 per cent by 2030 and 24% by 2050, respectively, as opposed to business as usual.
These reductions represent savings in excess of 10 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, accumulated between 2022-2030, and 60 million tons CO2 equivalent, accumulated between 2020-2050.
Panama also plans to restore 50,000 hectares national forests. This will help absorb around 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2050.
Almheiri received information about the nature-based strategies Panama uses to address climate change. Also, the country’s efforts in protecting the environment in the Panama Canal Watershed as well as coastal and marine areas. The discussion also covered marine waste management.
Almheiri thanked Ramn E. Martnez, Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industries and Erika Moynes, Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs for their participation in Visions and Journeys. These talks, which tackle gender stereotypes and present ideas for a gender equal future at Expo 2020 Dubai, were a series of inspirational talks that Almheiri attended.