Abu Dhabi shapes new era of climate change actions
abu dhabi — The Abu Dhabi Climate Initiative — the region’s first platform dedicated to fast-track research and development in water and climate technology — was launched based on three strategic pillars.
The latest development was announced during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and attended by Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, partners and industry experts.
Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the UAE has embarked on a “new era of economic growth” through climate action.
“This is a global initiative in close collaboration between the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Abu Dhabi Global Market, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and Hub71. The aim is to tackle three main aspects – future of water, sustainable finance and climate technologies,” the minister told Khaleej Times.
Dr Al Zeyoudi noted that the Abu Dhabi Climate Initiative will create a global ecosystem for leveraging technology to drive climate action. It includes three strategic pillars within its scope — the Climate Lab, the Sustain Think Tank
and the UAE Development Aid and Technical Assistance firm.
The Climate Lab at Hub71 will assist climate and water tech entrepreneurs and startups.
“The main objective of the Climate Hub is to attract international entrepreneurs and companies to the UAE. We will try to customise their technologies to the various weather conditions that we have in the UAE and rebuild them, move on and take them to a larger scale. We want to attract entrepreneurs when it comes to clean technologies, host them here, work together not only in local but global market,” Dr Al Zeyoudi said.
There will be the Global Incubator — the world’s first for clean technology for emerging markets with a focus on climate and water tech. “We want to be incubator and accelerator for such technologies,” he added.
The Sustain Think Tank, based at Abu Dhabi Global Market, will lead the conversation on sustainable finance, climate change technology and the future of water.
“With the Sustain Think Tank, we want to make sure that we have a scientific-based approach when it comes to tackling climate change. Our own studies have to be customised. Taking into consideration our own data, national circumstances in this region, how we are going to coordinate with our local universities and international partners as well. We are going to attract financial forums, where we are going to tackle financing of clean technology, which is big globally,” the minister said.
UAE Development Aid and Technical Assistance will be world-class advisory firm to offer strategic advice, implementation blueprints and capacitybuilding programmes.
“The advisory company will help and assist other countries when it comes to climate change policies, capacity building as part of our humanitarian work that we are doing globally. We will coordinate with other international partners as well,” Dr Al Zeyoudi said.