Abu Dhabi: With energy demand expected to increase three-fold by 2050, global economy can be shaped in practical ways towards a sustainable future, attendees at teh fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) were told on Monday.
Following 'unprecedented unity' against climate change, the ADSW went off to a hopeful start in the presence of top officials and experts, with a single-minded focus on transforming Paris climate deals into concrete action.
The ADSW is the first global gathering following the Paris Climate Conference, COP 21, in December, where the adoption of renewable energy and sustainable development can be advanced.
There's great interest in expanding the use of sustainable practices in the farthest corners of the world against unprecedented and disruptive challenges.
"Never before have we convened under such complex economic and geopolitical circumstances but never before have we convened under such unprecedented unity," said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State during his keynote address.
"For the past two decades we kept saying 'we can', 'we should' and 'we must' but last month at the Paris Conference of Parties (COP21), we did."
"Let us be brave, bold and ambitious," said Al Jaber, "and use this week to maintain the momentum and capitalise on this historic opportunity to lift the global economy and shape a practical pathway towards a sustainable future."
Following are the latest updates from the events.
3:05 pm
Laurent Fabius, a French Socialist who has been foreign minister of France since May 2012, lays bare the choices -- or lack of it -- to the present generation beset by challenges brought about by climate change. Fabius was the overseer of Paris Cop21 climate deal.
"Theres no Plan B because theres no Planet B" - Laurent Fabius quoting Ban Ki Moon at #ADSW2016 #AbuDhabiGlobalActionDay— Nada AlTaher (@NadaAlT) January 18, 2016+
2.15 pm
This event is one of the biggest such gathering in the world around the theme of powering the future of energy innovation and investment. To top it all off, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is in the house.
Dr Al Jaber, Ban Ki Moon, Laurent Fabius, Abdelilah Benkirane arrive for #AbuDhabiGlobalActionDay pic.twitter.com/DEVoWaVFB1— Nada AlTaher (@NadaAlT) January 18, 2016
1.30pm
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto cited the International Energy Agency's (IEA) projected that the world’s population will hit 9.7 billion by 2050, which will raise the energy demand three-fold from today.
“Although it is unlikely that the sources of fossil fuels will deplete, the threat of global warming imposes a transition towards clean energy. All nations are vulnerable to the effects of global warming which is why we have to assume our global responsibility in facilitating this transition and separating economic growth from greenhouse emissions,” said Nieto.
“We first require goodwill and political leadership such as what we witnessed during the recent COP21. Secondly, we require innovation and development of new technologies to make sure that all nations — particularly developing ones — have access to these solutions,” he added.
11.55 am
Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at #ADSW2016.
Dr Bruntland was former Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and current Special Envoy with the United Nations, and the Deputy Chair of The Elders. She was the first female Prime Minister of Norway.
As a member of The Elders, she is part of a group of independent leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide.
Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland receives Lifetime Achievement Award at #ADSW2016 pic.twitter.com/HSwiZ7Nncb— Nada AlTaher (@NadaAlT) January 18, 2016
11.05 am
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulates the UAE on its success in bringing together so many global leaders and on highlighting the impact that climate change has on women through WiSER.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon delivers keynote speech at #ADSW pic.twitter.com/Lfz9POF5WE— Nada AlTaher (@NadaAlT) January 18, 2016
10.25 am
In his keynote address at the opening ceremony of ADSW, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State, said: “Never before has the political will to address climate change and achieve sustainable development been so resolute and never before have market forces aligned so closely with political choices.
"Today, we convene at a time of complex geopolitical circumstances but we also convene at a moment of unprecedented unity. For the past two decades, we kept saying ‘we can’, ‘we should’ and ‘we must’ but last month at the Paris Conference of Parties (COP21), we did.”
Dr Al Jaber added: “There has never been a greater opportunity to make real progress towards sustainable development and to create an ecomomic potential that could drive sustained growth for future generations. Let us start here at ADSW to build bridges between governments and business and create durable partnerships. Let us be brave, bold and ambitious and use this week to maintain the momentum and capitalise on this historic opportunity to lift the global economy and shape a practical pathway towards a sustainable future.”
Never have we convened under such complex economic & geopolitical circumstances and never under such unprecedented unity - Dr Al Jaber #ADSW— Nada AlTaher (@NadaAlT) January 18, 2016
10.15 am
#ADSW hall is packed as opening ceremony comes close to commencement. pic.twitter.com/SnkLkpvMe4— Nada AlTaher (@NadaAlT) January 18, 2016
9.55 am
People in long queues complaining about #ADSW lack of counters for registration ahead of opening ceremony. pic.twitter.com/5VfGtSUMI0— Nada AlTaher (@NadaAlT) January 18, 2016
UAE commitment to renewable energy
ADSW opened on a high-powered note at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto were also in attendance.
Leaders, statesman and influencers from around the world are gathered in the capital, determined to convert the outcomes of the COP Paris 21 talks held last December into “actionables”.
In a speech during the opening ceremony of the 9th World Future Energy Summit (WFES), one of the major events of ADSW, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid said that Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a key platform for the promotion of international partnerships in sustainability that will drive innovation and achieve prosperity in the long run for the state and the international community.
The UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is committed to contributing to the growing global demand for energy by developing and promoting renewable energy technologies, Shaikh Mohammed added.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid hailed the role played by Masdar, which hosts ADSW, in boosting the UAE’s leadership in the field of energy as a whole, including renewable energy and said Masdar was able to accomplish this achievement in less than decade, and is today a key player in the international renewable energy sector.
Women in Sustainability
The week will witness the for the first time the Masdar-led Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) to discuss issues relevant to this sector of society that suffers the most due to climate change.
This year, ADSW has set the bar higher with the Masdar-led Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER), to be held on Wednesday.
A first-of-its-kind event in the region, WiSER will highlight the pivotal role of women in environmental sustainability and the challenges they face due to climate change. Several international partnerships are expected to be announced at the event.
Winners of Zayed Future Energy (ZFE) Prize
The opening ceremony also saw the announcement of the winners of the eighth Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP).
The prizes were given away by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed and President Nieto.
More than 33,000 people from 170 countries, including 60 ministers of state, are attending ADSW, which also hosts the World Future Energy Summit, the International Water Summit and EcoWaste, as well as the General Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), among a host of other activities.
Nine awards given out for Zayed Future Energy Prize
Five educational institutions, three companies and a renowned climate change advocate were on Monday awarded the Zayed Future Energy Prize in the capital.
The eighth edition of the award, which is presented annually as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week to promote sustainability and action against climate change, saw its Lifetime Achievement Award go to Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, ex-prime minister of Norway and United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Change for Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
The prize was handed out at a glittering ceremony at the start of the World Future Energy Summit today (December 18).
In addition, one school each from Oceania, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas received prizes in the Global High Schools category, and they will go on to install solar panels, develop biogas generators and improve grid efficiency. Each school receives a grant of $100,000 to develop their proposed projects.
Among non-profit organisations and business, Kopernik Indonesia won the prize, and its co-founder and chief operational officer, Ewa Wojkowska, announced that the grant will be used to improve access to clean technologies and safe drinking water in remote areas of the country.
BYD China, developer of electric vehicles and electronics, was awarded in the Large Corporations category, while Off Grid Electric, which provides pay-as-you-go energy access in Tanzania, was selected in the Small and Medium enterprises category.
Zayed Prize for Small and Medium Enterprises category: Off-grid Electric, Tanzania
Zayed Prize for Not-for-Profit category: Kopernik, Indonesia
Zayed Prize for Global High School, Americas: Institucion Educativa Gabriel Plazas in Colombia
Zayed Prize for Global High School, Europe: SFZ Sudwurttemberg in Germany
Zayed Prize for Global High School, Africa: SOS HG Sheikh Secondary School in Somaliland
Zayed Prize for Global High School, Asia: Korea Science Academy
Zayed Prize for Global High School, Oceania: Cashmere High School in New Zealand
Zayed Prize for Large Corporations category: BYD China
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
ADSW, a government initiative and the Middle East’s largest gathering on sustainability, is built around four key platforms: policy, leadership, business and awareness.
These platforms will be reflected in the activities, announcements and conversations taking place throughout this year’s programme.
The four-day event also showcases vast opportunities attached to the global drive for climate action. Alongside ADSW, the World Future Sustainability Week (WFES) is being held during ADSW, which ends on January 21.
WFES is divided into four tracks -- exhibition, conference, Solar Expo and Sustainable Transport Zone.
The Solar Expo itself showcases sa "Solar Village" which highlights multi-billion dollars worth of global solar projects in Afirca, Middle East, Asia and beyond. Apart from displaying cutting-ende technologies from the world's leading suppliers, the "village" also offers a platform for solar project developers and entrepreneurs.
Gulf News Team: Nada Al Taher, Samihah Saman, Fareed Rahman
