UAE committed to Third Pole Process

Arctic Circle is headed by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former President of Iceland, and is the largest network of governments, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, indigenous communities, and concerned citizens aimed at spurring dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic and the planet.

The Third Pole region is a term that denotes the geographic vicinity of the Himalayas, which includes India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and several countries in Central Asia.

The Third Pole Process, an initiative to minimize the threats of melting glaciers and water insecurity aggravated by climate change, will bring together governments, scientists, and experts to strengthen the regional knowledge of the challenges of diminishing water resources. The Process seeks to make an instrumental contribution to the preparations for the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), set to run in the UAE in 2023 and will hold a series of Arctic Circle Assemblies in Iceland and Arctic Circle Forums in other countries.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, said, "The UAE is committed to supporting global efforts to protect the natural world. If left unchecked, glacier melting will trigger higher biodiversity loss, impede economic growth, and lead to more acute food and water shortages. To avoid this bleak future, we are joining forces with the Arctic Circle to roll out the Third Pole Process, which will go a long way in forging meaningful partnerships and sharing experience to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the Third Pole region."