The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates

Positions for the General Assembly Plenary

1. Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites in Conflict Zones

The United Arab Emirates recognizes that the protection of all cultural heritage sites is important to the development of society. The UAE believes the protection of cultural heritage is a shared responsibility of every nation and recognizes that destruction of cultural sites is more prevalent in areas of conflict. The UAE defends the idea that heritage sites are an important bridge for society from the past to the present. It further affirms that these sites are as equally important as the people they represent. TheUAE distinguishes the importance of tangible and intangible heritage sites such as social processes and cultural ideas.

Internationally, the UAE endorses the New International Fund for the Protection of Endangered Cultural Heritage (NIF) in which France began the fund by contributing 30 million USD towards the goal of 100 million USD. [1] The French-UAE initiative held an International Conference on Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage which resulted in the Abu Dhabi Declaration.In this declaration, the UAE proposes international safe havens to temporarily guard cultural property that is endangered by areas of conflict. [2]

Regionally, the UAE has worked with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to develop programs to preserve official heritage sites through meetings such as the International Conference for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Conflict Areas (ICPCH) organized by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE demonstrates dedication to preserving cultural heritage sites regionally through the Arab Regional Center for World Heritage (ARCWH), headquartered in Bahrain. The establishment of an International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICSPR) in Sharjah, UAE, has helped to develop and promote conservation of heritage sites in areas of conflict and times of crisis through their First Aid in Times of Crisis course. [3]

Nationally, the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority works to preserve the culture of the Emirates through the development of museums in Abu Dhabi. The UAE has taken the initiative in the preservation of culture nationally as demonstrated through hosting the ICPCH in Abu Dhabi. The UAE works to preserve sites through working towards registering more national heritage sites with UNESCOand preserving structures in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE proposes the following plan of action:Allocate the international funding accumulated in the NIF to aspects of protection of international cultural sites such as protection forces guarding sites in zones of active conflict; Develop wider headquarters of organizations which assist in the development and protection of cultural sites such as ARCWH and ICSPR; Defend national heritage sites by enforcing the destruction of these as a war crime, carrying a punishment that is a proper reprimand for this action.

1. Addressing the Global Economic Effects of Natural Disasters

The United Arab Emirates acknowledges the amount of natural disasters has drastically increased over the past decades, and with this large increase of disasters comes large costs. These disasters are not evenly distributed throughout the world and therefore do not affect the different regions of the world equally. The UAE recognizes that even with an unequal distribution of disasters throughout the world, the global economy is affected and affects every nation. The UAE also recognizes that these natural disasters are a direct result of climate change, and for this reason, The UAE is devoted to supporting changes to combat climate change.The UAE furthermore realizes that individual countries must be prepared for natural disasters by establishing infrastructure within their own country to protect their citizens.

Internationally,the UAE demonstrated their devotion to combat climate change through being one of the first countries to ratify the Paris Agreement. Two key components in the Paris Agreement are to limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and to assist countries in need by providing finance to allow them to adapt to climate change. [4]The UAE set a goal of generating 24% of its electricity from clean sources of energy by 2021, and in striving to reach this goal the UAE has led the region in initiating clean energy sources. Dr.Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, stated, “The UAE is fully committed to the negotiation process and to achieving a legally binding climate agreement applicable to all parties,” demonstrating the UAE’s dedication to initiate change in areas that are damaging the world’s environment. [5]The UAE granted financial support internationally through the Abu Dhabi Fund of Development and International Agency for Renewable Energy (IRENA), demonstrating the financial commitment the UAE made in the Paris Agreement. [6]

Regionally,the UAE has provided a model to the member states demonstrating how the United Nations can work alongside a country throughout preparations and during natural disaster recovery. The UAE established the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority in 2007 as a regional program to manage disaster and crisis in the country. The Authority has many departments that operate in different specters to prepare for a disaster and react afterwards to keep the people of the UAE safe. This Authority is the first of its kind and give extreme importance in the region to disaster and crisis management.[7]

The UAE proposes the following plan of action:Allocate funding to countries in need of financial assistance for the purpose of initiating projects to combat climate change through use of nuclear and renewable energy sources and for establishment of their own disaster relief organizations; Take action in the effect of natural disasters on the global economy by focusing on countries that experience a greater economic loss due to a smaller economy or a larger number of natural disasters in the area and educate countries on risk management and infrastructure building so their nation is better prepared when disaster strikes.

[1] “In Abu Dhabi, UNESCO Director-General calls for renewed commitment to protect heritage under attack.” UNESCO. 3 Dec. 2016. Web. 27 Sept. 2017.

[2] “New International Fund for the Protection of Endangered Cultural Heritage.” Asia-Europe Museum Network. 8 Dec. 2016.Web. 27 Sept. 2017.

[3] “Abu Dhabi conference calls for heritage protection in conflict areas.” ICCROM. 7 Dec. 2017. Web. 27 Sept. 2017.

[4] “What is in the Paris Climate Agreement?” BBC News. 31 May 2017. Web. 25 Oct. 2017.

[5] “UAE’s Environment Goals Set Out Ahead of Crucial Paris Conference.” The National. 10 Nov. 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2017.

[6] “UAE Grants Dh168m in Loans for Renewable Projects Abroad.” The National. 17 Jan. 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2017.

[7]National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority. NCEMA in Focus. 2017. (accessed October 26, 2017).