Dubai: Following on its impressive initiatives to set the country on a sustainable path, the UAE will now play host to the first UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) conference.
A platform to highlight green economy models and practices, PAGE will bring together global leaders in green technology, minsters, academics as well as financiers and insurers in a two day conference to be held in Dubai on March 4 and 5.
Being held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minster of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the conference is a joint initiative by UAE Ministry of Environment and Water and UN agencies like UN Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organisation, UN Industrial Development organisation and UN Institute for Training and Research.
“I’m happy to announce that United Nations has chosen UAE and Dubai as the host of its first Green Economy conference. We believe this is a testimony to our efforts in the field of sustainability and vote for our quick turnaround in green practices,” said Rashid Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, announcing the conference to the press on Tuesday.
The conference will be a platform for UAE to showcase its impressive array of green footprints, while it will also learning from other countries about their best practices, added Bin Fahad.
Around 400 delegates are expected to attend the event that will work on implementing the Rio 20 declarations by supporting countries in interested in making the transition to green economy.
“UAE’s keenness to adopt green economy best practices and its success in several areas of sustainability has encouraged us to come here and host the conference. The event will bring the world together to review the progress on green economy practices over the last two years, following the declaration of Rio 20,” said Achim Steiner, Undersecretary General of United Nations and Executive Director of UNEP.
Hailing UAE leadership for the bold steps taken in sustainable development, Steiner said: “Over the last few years UAE has taken a lead in the field of sustainable development and UAE leadership has adopted as national strategy, which can be seen through the projects like solar energy plants, eco-friendly metro, Masdar city etc.”
Roadmap
Following on Shaikh Mohammad’s directions to adopt green practices Ministry of Environment and Water has charted out a roadmap that will unify the various initiatives in the different emirates and implement sustainable practices federally.
“Abu Dhabi has a green building code already and Dubai is adopting from next year but the rest of the emirates are yet to have their own system so the road map will unify such individual process and spread the benefits to each emirate,” said Aisha Al Abdooli, Assistant Undersecretary of Environment Affairs at Ministry of Environment and Water.
She added that the government has taken into confidence all the stakeholders through meaningful dialogue, which will allow for the smooth implementation of the project.
Initially, seven sectors, oil and gas, water and electricity, transport, construction, agriculture, industry and waste management will be transformed into sustainable models.
