Abu Dhabi: Thousands of government officials, experts and private sector executives from across the globe will gather in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss all possible measures for a green future. The annual umbrella event titled ‘Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2018’ that hosts a series of events covering almost all key areas of green solutions is one of the largest global sustainability gatherings. The delegates will discuss viable and effective strategies to mitigate climate change, especially through the global transformation to low carbon energy solutions.

The high-profile events begin on Saturday with the eighth assembly of International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) with the participation of more than 1,100 government representatives from 150 countries.

Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the ADSW will concentrate on ‘Driving the Global Energy Transformation’.

The opening ceremony will be held on Monday in the presence of senior government officials.

This year’s ADSW has many youth-centred programmes, including the Climate Innovation Exchange (CLIX) under the patronage of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. This will help 28 young entrepreneurs from across the globe find investments for their innovative business ideas. CLIX would raise a total of Dh13.1 million in funds for young innovators — Dh1.1 million for individual projects and Dh12 million for group projects.

A dedicated ‘youth panel’ after the opening ceremony on January 15, the annual ‘student exclusive’, a ‘youth circle’ in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, and the Student Ambassadors Programme are the other youth-focused programmes.

The event will also address the key global trends that are affecting the shift to sustainable energy: climate change, urbanisation and digitisation.

The ADSW will also debate the topic of Easternisation, among the major social, economic and environmental trends. Other key topics during the week will include mobility, sustainable cities, energy efficiency and sustainable water. Last year’s ADSW hosted around 35,000 attendees from 175 countries.

Major events at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2018

World Future Energy Summit (WFES), the anchor event, will host more than 600 companies from 40 countries.

The 8th session of the Irena Assembly — Government officials from more than 150 countries will gather to set the global renewable energy agenda.

The 6th International Water Summit in partnership with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA).

The 5th EcoWASTE exhibition and conference, in partnership with Tadweer, the Centre of Waste Management in Abu Dhabi.

To learn more, visit www.adsw.ae or follow #ADSW