The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has asked to host the COP 28 international conference on climate change in 2023, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation said Sunday.

The annual Conference of Parties (COP) is the decision-making body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The UAE exports oil and hosts the International Renewable Energy Agency's headquarters.

"The UAE has demonstrated a proven track record in progressive climate action and multilateral cooperation that makes it an ideal convener for COP 28," Sheikh Abdullah was quoted as saying by state news agency WAM. 

"The UAE has invested around $17 billion in commercial renewable energy projects on six continents and provided over $1 billion of grants and soft loans for renewable energy power plants," pioneering carbon capture and storage to decarbonize heavy industry. The UAE has led initiatives in climate-smart agriculture and prioritized biodiversity conservation, Sheikh Abdullah noted.