SUSTAINABILITY WEEK A STEP TOWARDS UAE HOSTING COP28
UAE PRESIDENT, WORLD LEADERS ATTEND OPENING EVENT
The President, His Highness Shaikh Mohamad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and a number of world leaders yesterday attended the opening ceremony of this year’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), a global initiative championed by the UAE to accelerate sustainable development.
The inauguration was also attended by Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea, Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, as well as leaders from Kazakhstan, Seychelles, Angola, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda, Palau, Mozambique, Tanzania, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast.
Welcoming the heads of state and industry leaders, Shaikh Mohammad stressed that ADSW is a global platform that reflects the UAE’s commitment to convening the international community and ensuring collaboration in driving sustainable economic and social development.
The UAE is making intensive efforts to find feasible and pragmatic solutions to climate change issues, the President said, stressing that its strategic initiative to achieve Net Zero by 2050 was a natural progression of the comprehensive approach to sustainability the company has followed since its inception.
Practical action
The President stated that ADSW this year is an essential step towards the UAE hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). The country’s selection to host COP28 reflected the UAE’s continued efforts to promote practical climate action, sustainable economic development, and progress towards desired global goal, he said.
The opening ceremony began with the national anthem of the UAE, followed by a film on the importance of effective climate action and the need for concerted global efforts. The film included statements from global leaders and officials calling for urgent and serious action to confront the problem of climate change.
During his keynote speech, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev stressed the depth of the bilateral relations between the UAE and Azerbaijan. He also praised the UAE’s remarkable growth trajectory, particularly in the sustainability and renewable energy sectors.
Aliyev highlighted his country’s ambition to strengthen its reliance on clean energy sources as an essential part of national development efforts, and to contribute to the global drive for a more environmentally friendly economy. He referred to the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Masdar and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic for the joint development of renewable energy sources, which aim to produce 10GW of renewable energy in the long term.
ADSW 2023, hosted by the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse Masdar, features a series of key events throughout the week that seek to engage all sections of society.
Delegates at ADSW will look to set global climate agenda priorities for COP28 — which will cement the UAE’s position as a bridge connecting the global North, South, East and West.
ADSW 2023, hosted by the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse Masdar, features a series of key events throughout the week that seek to engage all sections of society.
Journey to net zero
ADSW 2023 will also see the arrival of a new platform for the global energy sector through the launch of the inaugural Green Hydrogen Summit, which will highlight green hydrogen’s role in the process of decarbonising key sectors and supporting countries’
efforts in the journey to net zero.
It also seeks to involve young people in climate action through the Youth 4 Sustainability Forum and Hub, annually engaging 3,000 youth.
ADSW will also include the annual forum of Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy, aiming to give women more space to discuss sustainability.
I am proud of the Emirati, Korean and international teams working together at Barakah, as they complete another Unit to strengthen the UAE’s clean electricity portfolio and set the global benchmark for nuclear energy project delivery.”
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
I hope that my visit marks a watershed for our comprehensive and strategic energy partnership that would extend beyond nuclear to areas including hydrogen, renewables and carbon capture and storage.”
Yoon Suk-yeol | South Korea’s President
Because the world grapples with a series of complex economic challenges, whether it’s a looming global recession or spiralling global debt, there will be some who are tempted now to delay their commitments to climate action.”
Majid Al Suwaidi | UAE’s COP28 Director-General