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Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi |
Sustainability and addressing climate change are not new focus areas for the UAE. Our forefathers have long embraced sustainability. This has been clearly evidenced in their ability to live in harsh climatic conditions through the judicious use of natural resources, while remaining conscious of the need to preserve these resources for the sustained benefit of future generations.
Our founding father late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan attached significant importance to environmental and sustainability issues. Building on his foundational efforts, the UAE President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has creditably carried the mandate forward to lead the dynamic transformation of the country, especially through economic and energy diversification.
For his part, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has pioneered several path-breaking initiatives, such as the UAE’s Green Development Strategy that adopts green economy as a strategic option to direct the national economy towards a green, sustainable and low-carbon future.
There has never been a more exciting time for the UAE.
Guided by our leadership’s vision, our country is being steered towards a future beyond oil. We are innovating to strengthen our existing industries and foray into new ones. We are investing in our nationals and preparing them to lead and prosper in the 21st century.
And, playing a vital, participatory role is the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
Our job at the Ministry is to address the most pressing issue of our generation in a way that makes economic sense and to protect the most important components of our cultural heritage. To achieve this, we have laid the groundwork for comprehensive and ambitious action on climate change and the environment this region has ever witnessed.
At the heart of this will be the UAE National Climate Change Plan. Our country already has an impressive track record of having strong partnerships among public and private sector players to position industry and the overall economy for growth and less carbon emissions. We led the region in deploying clean energy, with pioneering projects and policies in renewable and nuclear energy, energy and water efficiency and carbon sequestration. We have deployed energy-saving infrastructure, from green buildings to world-class public transportation systems. The UAE National Climate Plan will build on these important initiatives and further our conviction that climate action can go hand in hand with continued economic growth. The Plan, being developed in close consultation with our public and private sectors, is poised to advance our ambitious agenda of diversifying our economy into new, knowledge-based industries. Our priority is to reduce our emissions, while creating more jobs, more growth and higher levels of awareness.
Science and research are crucial to making informed and data-driven policy decisions. In May this year, we established the ‘Emirates Committee for Sustainable Environment Research’. This Committee will bring together the country’s top experts from government, academia, civil society and the private sector, to design a comprehensive research strategy on climate change and environment issues.
Our best future is one that promotes our heritage. We are working hand in hand with our farmers and fisherman, to hear their concerns and encourage the expansion of these historic professions. In March this year, we introduced the Mawroothna card, which grants farmers and fishermen benefits, discounts and related privileges, as well as partnership with companies. Also in March, we installed 900 man-made reefs in protected marine areas off Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and the Eastern Region. These reefs will improve the marine environment and enhance our fish stock.
Globally, we are working harder than ever to develop meaningful and result-oriented solutions. We were the first country in the region to formally join the Paris Agreement: The world’s first truly global and durable response to climate change. The premise of the Paris Agreement is that each country can determine its own response to climate change, in accordance with its own economic and development priorities. For the UAE, this means finding solutions that bring together government and the wider public to create new economic and social opportunities.
Recently, at the United Nations Climate Conference in Marrakesh, our delegation included representatives from our private sector, academia, civil society and more than 30 youth representatives. We are determined to inspire, activate and mobilise all segments and sectors to overcome the climate change and environment and challenge.
We will kick off 2017 with three major initiatives. First, the Second Abu Dhabi Global Action Day during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January will convene government and business leaders to translate the political outcomes from the UN climate talks into practical action. In February, partnering with the World Government Summit, we will add a dedicated climate segment, which will elevate the topic of climate change to government leaders like never before by harnessing the expertise of futurists and innovators. Our first climate segment will focus on food security. Third, we will activate a dedicated Business Council, which will design policy solutions that will respond to the specific needs of businesses in order to create marketplaces, unlock capital and drive the ambitious actions we need.
Our country has all the ingredients to act on climate change and protect our environment, while simultaneously contributing to a stronger and more resilient economic future. The opportunities have never been greater. The challenge for us now is to take advantage of them.
Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi is the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
