Events to watch for during Capital’s sustainability week

> The World Future Energy Summit — the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week’s (ADSW) anchor event — will feature over 850 exhibiting companies from 40 countries. The inaugural Future Summit, to be held on January 15 and 16, will tackle accelerating the transition to a sustainable society. Mohammad Juma Bin Jarsh Al Falasi, undersecretary of the Department of Energy (DoE), Abu Dhabi, said the country’s unified energy strategy for 2050 aims to increase the contribution of clean energy into the total energy mix from 25 to 55 per cent.

“Our aim is to reduce the carbon footprint of our power generation by 70 per cent and increase consumption efficiency by 40 per cent. This will in effect save around Dh700 billion over the next 30 years. We are keen to enhance the level of integration among all stakeholders, and ensure that we have the right strategy and regulations in place to minimise the consumption of oil and gas. We plan to deploy appropriate technology for each phase of energy production to enhance the efficiency of the energy sector while minimising carbon emissions,” he added.

> The ninth assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) is one of the key events that will take place during the ADSW. “The assembly — which brings together 180 countries that comprise Irena’s ultimate decision-making body — takes place every year at the ADSW, a reflection of its significance as a leading global platform for policy dialogue and a catalyst for action,” said Adnan Z. Amin, director-general of the Irena.

> The Zayed Sustainability Prize will also be announced on January 14 and will recognise winners in the global high schools category and the four new categories, namely health, food, energy and water.

> The Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (Wiser) platform will host its annual forum on January 16 under the theme ‘The role of women in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals’. Launched on the sidelines of the 70th UN General Assembly in September 2015, the Wiser initiative aims to educate, engage and empower women to participate and lead across all sustainability sectors.