Abu Dhabi: There will be a ‘youthquake’ at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2018, one of the largest global sustainability gatherings, as it will focus on the role of youth in global energy system’s transformation into sustainable energy to fight climate change, a top official said here on Wednesday.
“Youthquake was selected as word of the year 2017 by Oxford dictionaries, which denotes an earthquake for the youth. The ASDW will reflect ‘youthquake’ as the UAE has been talking about this idea for the past 46 years,” said Dr Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
Youthquake means a significant cultural, political or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people, according to Oxford English Dictionary.
For the UAE, ‘youthquake’ is a legacy of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, its founding father, as he focused on the youth since the nation’s inception, Al Zeyoudi said at a press conference to announce the ADSW, which will be held from January 13 to 20 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).
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 also concentrate on ‘Driving the Global Energy Transformation’.
Among the many youth-centred programmes at the ADSW, the Climate Innovation Exchange (CLIX) under the patronage of his ministry will help 28 young entrepreneurs from across the globe find investments for their innovative business ideas, the minister said.
The initiative launched in October attracted 312 candidates from 65 countries, who sent 364 submissions in three categories — air pollution, innovation in agriculture and innovation in transportation. “I’m especially proud to see that the bulk of these submissions came from the UAE,” Al Zeyoudi said.
He told Gulf News that 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 at the ADSW.
The event will also address the key global trends that are affecting the shift to sustainable energy: climate change, urbanisation and digitisation.
Adnan Z. Ameen, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), said the ADSW’s emphasis on the youth is relevant, given the UAE’s focus on youth and development of the knowledge economy. The jobs in the renewable energy industry are created mainly for the youth, he said.
Mohammad Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), the host of ADSW, said: “The next edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will be historic because it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, as well as the tenth anniversary of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, which was established in honour of his legacy.”
The ADSW will discuss viable and effective strategies to mitigate climate change, especially through the global transformation to low carbon energy solutions. The event 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 (CWM).
To learn more, visit www.adsw.ae or follow #ADSW and @ADSWagenda on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
24 million jobs in renewable energy by 2030, Irena chief says
By Binsal Abdul Kader
Senior Reporter
Abu Dhabi: The existing one million jobs in renewable energy across the globe will be increased to 24 million by 2030, a top official said here on Wednesday.
“We are entering a new age of renewable energy adoption and energy systems innovation,” said Adnan Z. Ameen, director-general of International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), at a press conference announcing the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2018.
He said social, economic and environmental benefits, falling costs and stronger enabling policy frameworks are driving the global shift in energy system towards renewables.
More than $1 trillion (Dh3.67 trillion) has been invested in global renewable energy industry since 2013. For five straight years, investments in renewables outstripped investments in fossil fuel industry.
In 2016, renewable power generation capacity grew by 8.8 per cent, adding a record 165 gigawatts in the energy system. Today, 173 countries around the world have renewable energy targets, an increase from 43 countries that had this target in 2005. “It is a remarkable change,” Ameen said.
