UAE climate entity to drive its pledge towards net zero by ’50

NEW YORK: The UAE announced the establishment of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) during New York Climate Week.

The UICCA is a non-partisan, climate action entity that will bring together members of the public and private sector, including academic institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOS) to drive the UAE’S commitment towards net zero by 2050.

In the lead-up to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28), which is set to take place in Dubai, the UICCA will establish an independent body that enables collaboration, cooperation and innovation. The UICCA, which will be led by Sheikha Shamma Bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO and Founder of Alliances for Global Sustainability and Cofounder of Aurora50, is set to become the first of its kind entity on a global scale.

Under Sheikha Shamma’s direction and with the support of industry leaders and subject mater experts, the UICCA will operate as a think tank and predominantly focus on providing advice and recommendations to stakeholders on positive climate action that facilitates the transition to a green economy. This transition will contribute to boosting GDP growth, increasing job creation, and reinforcing the UAE’S position as a global

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) hub and first-mover on climate action.

Sheikha Shamma, Executive Director of UICCA, said, “It is an honour to be tasked, by the leadership of the UAE, with building and driving the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators. Our goals as a nation are clear, and we have made significant headway towards implementing the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative — however, this is only our first milestone; it’s the synergies we create today that will allow us to live a more sustainable future, far beyond 2050. The only way for us to do this is by enabling and energising an ecosystem that actively participates in realising one shared vision, and the UICCA is the nucleus that will bring this ecosystem to life.”

In addition to acting as a catalyst for a knowledge-based green economy and atracting global talent to the UAE’S sustainability sector, the Accelerators will facilitate international business, innovation and technology partnerships that work towards the common goal of tackling climate change. The main sectors of focus will include electric mobility, sustainable fuels, energy efficiency, green buildings, smart cities, carbon capture and storage, nature-based solutions, and a growing Agtech and Climate Tech segment.

On the other hand, the 8th World Green Economy Summit (WGES) in Dubai will explore ways to improve global food security, sustainability of the food systems and the contribution of the agriculture and food production sectors to achieve a net zero future.

The Summit, which is organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) on 28-29 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will draw atention to the rapid global changes that create the need for practical solutions to the entire food value chain. WGES brings together local and international VIPS and global decisionmakers and influencers to share their successful experiences and case studies to mitigate global food crises and find practical solutions to meet the needs of current and future generations.

“The Summit supports the forward-looking vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform the UAE into a global hub for food security based on innovation, as well as to achieve the objectives of the UAE’S National Food Security Strategy 2051 to develop an integrated, national sustainable food production system. The Summit strengthens the UAE’S role in supplying sustainable international solutions that improve people’s lives worldwide,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, MD & CEO of DEWA and Chairman of the WGEO.

“The Summit also supports the UAE’S efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) 2030, including the ‘Zero Hunger’ goal. It discusses ways to make current food systems more sustainable, using Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, climate-smart agriculture, transforming into a green and circular economy and fostering innovation,” added Al Tayer.

The UAE plays a crucial role in addressing the issues relating to global food security and is regarded as a leading donor to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The leadership’s proactive vision has played a pivotal role in preserving the welfare of UAE citizens and residents and ensuring their access to high-quality food. WGES adds to the UAE’S initiatives and projects that aim to build constructive partnerships to overcome common obstacles and activate the digital revolution in the management of a sustainable food system. The most prominent of these projects are the Food Tech Valley project in Dubai; the national initiative ‘Naama’ to reduce food loss and waste in the UAE, and the global Foodtech Challenge.