Press Release
Mohammed bin Rashid and Mohammed bin Zayed attends 9th World
Future Energy Summit, During the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Opening Ceremony
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls for greater public-private action in
achieving sustainable development by creating economic and social opportunity;
Mexican President Peña Nieto says it is possible to secure global climate regime
without impeding economic and social progress;
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 18 January, 2016 – His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme
Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces today attended the ninth World Future
Energy Summit, a key platform as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).
H.E. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, and H.E. Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico,
delivered keynote addresses, following the welcome address by H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber,
UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar.
Attracting more than 33,000 delegates, including over 80 government ministers and visitors
from 170 countries, ADSW is the Middle East’s largest gathering focused on addressing the
interconnected challenges of energy and water security, climate change and sustainable
development.
Commenting on the opening ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed underscored the
UAE’s drive to achieve a diversified, sustainable economy as part of the “UAE Vision 2021”
national strategic plan. His Highness also emphasized that the United Arab Emirates, under the
leadership of His Highness Sheikh Kalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, is
committed to helping meet the world’s growing demand for energy through the development
and deployment of renewable energy technologies.
He also commented that Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a key platform to cement the
international partnerships that will drive innovation and long-term prosperity for the UAE and
the global community at large.
His Highness praised Masdar’s role in extending the UAE’s energy leadership beyond
hydrocarbons and for emerging, in less than a decade, as a key player in the international
renewable energy sector.
In his keynote speech, Secretary-General Ban stressed the need to turn political will into
decisive action on renewable energy and sustainable development, as part of the fight against
climate change. He praised the UAE’s leadership in sustaining the political momentum in the
wake of the Paris Climate Agreement, reached in December, to achieve a better future for
people across the world.
He told delegates: “We have a vision, [and] we have goals. There is also political will. We are
the first generation with an opportunity to end poverty, but we are the last generation with a
chance to combat climate change. Clean energy is the key to both of these tests. Sustainable
energy is the thread that connects economic growth, social equity and our efforts to combat
climate change.
“UAE and Masdar are a perfect example of the kind of public-private action that is needed. I
congratulate Abu Dhabi on bringing together so many different partners including world
leaders,” he continued.
As the first high level global sustainable development event to take place since the Paris
Climate Agreement, ADSW will examine how to turn the ambitious goals of the Paris Climate
Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into practical and innovative
policy, investment, technology and partnership solutions, with a focus on identifying actions
that can be taken by both the public and private sectors.
In special remarks, delivered at the opening ceremony, H.E. President Peña Nieto said: “One of
the biggest challenges facing humanity is to have enough clean energy to meet future demand
for energy. All nations of the world are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and we
therefore all have a duty to assume a global responsibility.”
“Mexico is committed to the environment. We have made the decision to transition to lesspolluting forms of fuel and to adopt renewable energy. Our belief is that it is possible to secure
a new climate regime, without impeding economic and social progress. Abu Dhabi, and
particularly Masdar, represent tangible examples of innovative environments aimed at
sustainable economic and social progress.”
In his address to the opening ceremony, H.E. Dr Al Jaber said: “We convene at a moment of
unprecedented unity. The Paris Agreement, last month, marked the culmination of over a
decade of challenging negotiations. Never before has the political will to address climate
change and achieve sustainable development been so resolute. And never before have market
forces aligned so closely with political choices.
“Achieving sustainable development and meeting the worlds’ growing demand for energy
cannot be met by one source alone. All energy sources both traditional and new must work
hand-in-hand. And that is why our leadership has prioritized economic and energy
diversification as fundamental pillars to achieving sustainable development,” added H.E. Dr Al
Jaber.
“There has never been a greater opportunity to make progress against the sustainable
development goals and to create an economic potential that can drive sustained growth for
future generations. Here, at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, we can start to build bridges
between governments and businesses to create durable partnerships and to address the
world’s most pressing challenges in sustainability. So let us be brave bold and ambitious. Let us
use this week to maintain the momentum and to capitalize on this historic opportunity to lift
the global economy and carve a practical pathway towards a sustainable future,” continued
H.E. Dr. Al Jaber
ADSW 2016 has brought together thought leaders, policy makers and investors to address the
challenges and opportunities of renewable energy and sustainable development through policy
dialogue and action. ADSW 2016 will promote multilateral cooperation and bold decision
making to accelerate the adoption of the sustainable solutions needed to realise the economic
aspirations of future generations and to accommodate rapid global population growth.
The week will also showcase the UAE’s leadership in addressing the critical issues defining the
sustainability agenda, such as innovation and water security and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position
as an international energy and sustainability hub, capitalising on the clear economic
opportunity of clean energy and water security. ADSW will also play a vital role in growing
awareness, stimulating public debate and motivating action to address the vital regional issues
of sustainability - energy efficiency, water conservation and waste recycling.
ADSW, which runs until January 23, is hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy
company. This year, ADSW will be structured around four key pillars: policy, leadership,
business and awareness and academic research.
Held as part of ADSW, the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) is the world’s foremost event
dedicated to the advancement of renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean technology.
The four-day conference programme will address a range of key themes across clean energy. It
will include sessions on the the future of global energy in a low hydrocarbon price environment;
financing the future of energy; new projects in the MENA solar sector and climate change and
the UAE.
Also, taking place during ADSW, are the fourth International Water Summit; the third
EcoWASTE exhibition; the eighth Zayed Future Energy Prize Awards Ceremony and the
inaugural UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science Awards ceremony.
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About Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) is the largest gathering on sustainability in the Middle East -- a groundbreaking global forum that unites thought leaders, policy makers and investors to address the challenges and
opportunities of renewable energy and sustainable development through dialogue and action. With a new
mandate to address climate change mitigation achieved at the Paris Climate Conference (COP 21), ADSW 2016 is
promoting multilateral cooperation and bold decision making to accelerate the adoption of the sustainable
solutions needed to realise the economic aspirations of future generations and to accommodate rapid global
population growth.
About Masdar
Masdar is Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company which works to advance the development, commercialization
and deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions. The company serves as a link between today’s fossil
fuel economy and the energy economy of the future. Wholly owned by the Mubadala Development Company
PJSC, the strategic investment company of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the Emirates’
long-term vision for the future of energy and water.
Contacts:
E-mail: press@masdar.ae
Tel enquiries in Arabic: +971 2 653 3333
Tel enquiries in English: +971 2 653 6014
For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and
twitter.com/masdar