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Abu Dhabi: September 28th - The United Arab Emirates has reinforced its support for renewable energy initiatives, enhancing energy efficiency and voluntary actions to mitigate climate change at the United Nations Climate Summit. The Summit was part of the United Nation's General Assembly, which was attended by a UAE delegation and headed by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Summit – which was organized by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, and took place on 23 September in New York – aimed to build political momentum towards a new global climate change agreement, which is to be negotiated by December 2015.
Over 120 heads of state and government attended this week's Summit, and announced new measures and partnerships to combat the global climate change challenge.
The Summit follows the Abu Dhabi Ascent, which was held in May this year. The Abu Dhabi Ascent was critical in shaping and scaling-up the initiatives and commitments that were announced during the Summit.
Delivering a speech at the Climate Summit, H.E Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change said, “By hosting the Abu Dhabi Ascent, the UAE played a crucial role in shaping the initiatives and voluntary actions that were announced this week at the Climate Summit. These announcements are a clear indication of the growing commitment world leaders are making to address the global climate change challenge.”
The UAE emphasized its extensive development assistance programme for renewable energy, which in the last 12 months has mobilized grants and low-interest loans to support fellow developing countries' deployment efforts.
“Today, we are restating our belief that renewable energy and enhanced efficiency are the climate solution that all nations can get behind. Renewable energy is now the most efficient source of power for many developing countries and offers tremendous socio-economic opportunities,” added H.E Dr. Sultan Al Jaber.
Through Masdar, the UAE has made major investments across renewable energy projects, and is currently producing nearly 1GW of capacity both domestically and internationally.
The world's largest two greenhouse gas emitters – United States of America and China – also pledged action to mitigate their emissions. In his address, US President Barack Obama said that climate change was moving faster than efforts to address it, and the US and China had a responsibility to lead other nations.
“Today world leaders agreed that climate change is a defining issue of our time and that bold action is needed to reduce emissions and build resilience; and that they would lead this effort”, said H.E. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations.
“Together, we must capitalize on the momentum from this Summit,” HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber said, “going forward, the UAE will continue to help develop, launch and implement practical, action-oriented initiatives that will make a tangible impact to mitigating climate change and to the advancement of renewable energy.”
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