UAE delegation at Paris summit highlights clean energy strategy among other efforts to tackle global warming
The UAE is committed to negotiations regarding the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in order to reach a global agreement that ensures practical and effective steps to curb the repercussions of climate change.
Speaking at the 21st Session of the Conference of Parties (COP21), Dr Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change, said: “Climate change affects the entire world and has economic, political and humanitarian consequences that pose a real threat to present and future generations.”
Dr Al Jaber, who is also Head of the UAE delegation participating in Paris talks, said the UAE has taken initiative for many years to deal with climate change and launched several initiatives to develop clean energy.
“The UAE adopted a clean energy strategy and is now working to increase the share of clean energy sources to 24 per cent by 2021. Such initiatives also include the setting up of the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is in line with Dubai’s clean energy strategy that aims at 5,000 megawatt of clean energy by 2030.
“The UAE is implementing green building systems and adopting international standards in cooling and lighting systems.”
Dr Al Jaber added that the UAE, through Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s Strategic multifaceted renewable energy initiative, is contributing to enhancing and promoting renewable energy solutions and projects locally, regionally and globally.
“The UAE is currently implementing a number of projects that have a direct impact on reducing carbon emissions. Among these projects is Shams-1, a solar power plant in Abu Dhabi, London Array, the largest operating offshore wind farm in the world based in England, in addition to other solar power projects in Spain and a range of renewable projects in other countries around the world.”
Dr Al Jaber invited the delegates to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January 2016 to work together and take practical measures to build a better and sustainable future.
The UAE also joined global partners to host ‘RE-Energising the Future’, an international conference to discuss visions for a future powered by renewable energy, held on the sidelines the COP21.
“Renewable energy is a vital tool in reducing the potential impacts of climate change” said Dr Al Jaber. “The development and deployment of clean energy technology will drive economic growth while simultaneously protecting our environment.”
During the event, government representatives such as Jerry Brown, the Governor of California, Miguel Arias Canete, EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, and Abdul Kader Amara, Morocco’s Minister of Energy, detailed plans for scaling up renewable energy investments.
In his closing remarks, Dr Al Jaber, discussed the UAE’s efforts to address climate change through clean energy innovation.
“The UAE is a global leader committed to advancing innovation and renewable energy technologies,” said Dr Al Jaber.
Business leaders, including CEOs from Masdar, Marks and Spencer, 50 Hertz and Iberdrola, showcased promising clean energy innovations and representatives from Google, Facebook, Statoil, Build Your Dreams and M-KOPA affirmed the vast market potential for renewable energy.
The conference was organised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission (EC), the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), and the Syndicate for Renewable Energy of France (SER). It was held as part of the COP21 Renewable energy track event series from December 4-7 to demonstrate how renewable energy can help the world achieve a sustainable future.