Moe confident trip to Dubai for COP28 will be successful

Premier Scott Moe is yet again defending the nearly $800,000 price tag for an upcoming trip to Dubai by members of the Saskatchewan government.

Moe and a delegation of Saskatchewan-based businesses are heading to Dubai for the Conference of Parties (COP28), the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Moe is proud of the government’s effort to make the province more sustainable. He said it’s worth showing that off to the world at COP28.

“In the products that we produce in Saskatchewan, I can very proudly say they’re the most sustainable of their kind that you can find on Earth. That’s the story we will bring to COP28,” said Moe.

He said another key component is showing the world not only what the province produces but, from an environmental perspective, how it’s done.

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Moe said the province’s pavilion will provide a space for all the delegates to get together to share important knowledge.

“COP28 provides an excellent opportunity to meet with other industry and government leaders on sustainability, innovations to support environmental stewardship and showcase how Saskatchewan has the food, fuel, fertilizer and critical minerals that our growing world needs,” Moe said in a media release.

“Opportunities like this are how we create jobs for our residents, strengthen our provincial economy and build and protect our communities for generations to come.”

Events at the Saskatchewan pavilion start Sunday. There will be over 55 local companies taking part and 51 events at the Saskatchewan pavilion alone.

COP28 runs for two weeks. The first week is focused on energy sustainability, which Moe said is a different focus from previous COP conferences that representatives of the province have attended.

The province will showcase events and sessions on uranium, oil and gas, mining and sustainable technology.

The second week will focus on sustainable agriculture and food systems. Events at the Saskatchewan pavilion will focus on potash, grains, pulse production and how the province can ensure food security for the future.

COP28 is an international climate summit held annually in rotating host countries. The conference brings together world leaders and stakeholders to collaborate on issues related to climate change.

The European Union and 198 individual countries participate.

The conference is being held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, until Dec. 12.

For more information on the government’s trip to Dubai, click here.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Nicole Garn