15 December 2023
As the gavel comes down after weeks-long deliberations on ways to address the climate crisis at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) held in Dubai, the women and men from DHSSS/UNDSS who made it happen reflect. Behind the successful execution of COP28 lay extensive months of security planning and intensive coordination with the meeting organizers and the host government security apparatus. In a previous interview with Kevin O Hanlon, Chief of Unit, DHSSS/UNDSS and COP 28 Event Security Coordinator, he highlighted the security intricacies of preparing for such an event noting, “This year's event had set itself apart from previous ones due to its grand scale and the elevated expectations set by the UAE, which aimed at making this COP the largest and most impactful one yet. However, with greater ambitions came higher stakes, which put added pressure on the UNDSS security team.”
World leaders and thousands of delegates from civil society, international organizations, and businesses attended COP28. “Registration and accreditation registered over 116,000 participants and printed nearly 84,000 badges of different categories to ensure smooth access control to the meeting venue,” explained Kevin. “We also had deployed a team of 122security officers drawn from 15 duty stations and UN agencies to cover the venue on various fronts including VIP support.” This year’s participation included 149 heads of state), more than 40,000 delegates, 17,522 registered NGOs, and 2,582 media personnel.
UNDSS' close collaboration with the UAE police has been instrumental in establishing a comprehensive security plan. Security preparations for the next COP29 in Azerbaijan from 11-22 November 2024 start immediately. “As delegates retreat to reflect on the meeting’s declarations, our focus immediately shifts to security preparations for the next COP,” added Kevin. “It’s a continuous cycle in which we must always be one step ahead.”
