COVID-19: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week to be held virtually in 2021

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the global platform for accelerating sustainable development, hosted by Masdar, will be held virtually next year.

The high-profile series of events will be reimagined virtually, and organised from January 18 to 21, 2021. The full physical programme of ADSW is meanwhile postponed to 2022.

The Prominent Summit will be held on January 19. Dedicated to ensuring a green recovery, the Summit will feature three sessions of speeches, presentations and panel debates, reaching a global audience across multiple time zones.

“Holding ADSW in a virtual format in 2021 will allow us to continue to drive the sustainability agenda forward in the line with the vision of the UAE, ensuring that the world’s attention remains focused on the actions required to achieve a healthier, safer and more sustainable future for all,” said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Masdar Chairman.

Concerted action needed

ADSW 2021 will reinforce the message that a decade of concerted action is required to deliver on the Sustainability Development Goals, and that the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 have further illustrated the critical importance of achieving a truly sustainable recovery for all.

The IRENA Assembly, which takes place each year in the context of ADSW, will also be held during the ADSW next year.

Zayed Sustainability Prize

However, the Zayed Sustainability Prize, which is announced at the start of ADSW, has been postponed. All applications for the 2021 prize have been moved to the 2022 cycle, with the 2021 award ceremony postponed in order to ensure the safety and well-being of participants, the Abu Dhabi Media Office announced on Tuesday,

The 2020 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week hosted around 45,000 attendees from 170 countries, with more than 500 high-level speakers from around the world.