The United Arab Emirates (UAE), the centre for global debate and cooperation on sustainability issues, hosted the Abu Dhabi Global Action Day, an international forum calling on public and private sector leaders to drive forward the commercial ventures and technology breakthroughs needed to tackle climate change and renewable energy and deliver on the global sustainability goals.
The high-level event was part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), one of the world’s largest gathering on sustainable development. The event followed the Paris climate summit, COP22, held in Marrakesh, Morocco, where world leaders agreed to a historic framework on climate change. Serving as a catalyst for action, the event convened governments and businesses to accelerate progress.
In his opening remarks, His Excellency Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement and COP 22, our climate action has been stronger than ever and we saw the UN negotiations begin to make a much-needed pivot towards business and the private sector, by focussing on the economic benefits of climate action and delivering greater economic growth and prosperity.”
“Our visionary leadership launched the UAE Energy Plan 2050, under which the UAE will improve its energy efficiency by 40%, increase clean energy target to 50%, cut emissions by 70%, deliver more jobs, more growth and save over 700 billion dirhams. The same is happening around the world, where a record of $286 billion was invested in new renewable energy projects; this is more than twice the amount of coal and gas”, HE Al Zeyoudi added.
In his speech, HE Luis Guillermo Solís, President, The Republic of Costa Rica, said: “Implementing practical and innovative policy, investment, technology and partnership solutions will be critical in achieving our global goals on climate and sustainable development. Abu Dhabi Global Action Day at ADSW plays in important role in continuing our journey toward a clean energy future and healthy environment.”
HE Filip Vujanović, President, Montenegro, reiterated: “We have a global opportunity to build on the outcomes of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris agreement and COP22, to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.”
HE Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister, The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, praised UAE’s environmental stewardship and conservation, set by the UAE’s founding father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and said: “Abu Dhabi Global Action Day is the perfect platform to support international action and investments encourage renewable energy projects.”
Abu Dhabi Global Action Day included a series of panel sessions focused on immediate actions to support the Paris climate agreement and the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP 22) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), cooperation between governments and private sectors to drive partnership and investments, and the future of global energy.
The event also included discussions on breakthrough technologies needed to create transformational change, as well as next steps on supporting global initiatives to accelerate clean energy innovation.
ADSW is the a major international gathering after the annual Conference of Parties (COP 22) of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and provides a supportive platform for climate action. The conference, held on January 12-21, is hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company.