The Secretary-General today met with H.E. Ms. Hakima El Haite, Minister in Charge of Energy, Water and Environment of Morocco, in the margins of the Abdu Dhabi Sustainability Week, in the United Arab Emirates.

He thanked the Minister for Morocco’s constructive leadership role during the negotiations in Paris, which led to the universal climate change agreement in December 2015.

The Secretary-General congratulated Morocco’s role as the President of the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22), which is expected to take place in Marrakesh later this year, and stressed the country’s leadership in ensuring that the positive momentum generated in Paris is maintained.

The leaders discussed the forthcoming high-level signature ceremony for the Paris agreement on the 22 April 2016. They also highlighted the need for Heads of State and Government to attend this historic event and agreed to work together with France to ensure the early entry into Force of the Paris Agreement.