UAE showcases it climate change efforts in Columbia University

21 April 2016, New York: H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, joined a panel of international figures at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, to raise awareness and promote the United Arab Emirates’ ambitious actions in the area of climate change and environment. 
The panel included Mr. Adnan Amin, Director General of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Mrs. Delphine Eyraud, from the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, and Dr. Joe Aldy, Associate Professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The event came ahead of the High-Level Signing Ceremony for the Paris Agreement, convened by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 22 April 2016. The Ceremony will be the first step in implementing the Paris Climate Agreement, which was adopted in December 2015 to unite the world in taking nationally determined climate action. 

H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi discussed the significance of UAE’s efforts in addressing climate change, including the diversification of its economy, its global and domestic efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and emphasized the economic and social benefits of taking social action. H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi also emphasized the importance of engaging the next generation and called upon students in both countries to join efforts in realizing climate resilient future. 

“The UAE is diversifying its economy to not only combat climate change, but also safeguard its economy for future generations,” said HE Dr. Al Zeyoudi. H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi also emphasized the country’s strategies aimed at protecting its unique environmental resources, especially as with regards to water and marine environment conservation.  

During the visit, H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi also met with Columbia faculty, to discuss collaboration between the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Columbia University.

H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi also met with Yale University, to discuss potential collaboration and knowledge exchange between Yale and the United Arab Emirates.