Day: September 28, 2022

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, inaugurated the 8th of the World Green Economy summit today. The two-day event is organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy at the Dubai World Trade Centre. A large number of ministers, officials, and experts from around the world are taking part in the Summit.

 

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, MD&CEO of DEWA and Chairman of WGEO, delivered the keynote speech at the Summit.

 

The inauguration was attended by HE Dr. Muawieh Khalid Radaideh, Minister of Environment – Jordan; HE Kavydass Ramano, Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change – Mauritius; HE Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change – India; HE Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of DEWA, HE Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai; HE Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy; Mohammed Mohammed Saleh, Director-General of Etihad Water and Electricity; HE Dawood Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality; HE Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism; HE Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy; HE Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of ENOC; HE Ahmed Bin Shafar, CEO of Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower); Abdulla Bin Kalban, Managing Director of Emirates Global Aluminium; Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, CEO of Dragon Oil; Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power; Mahmoud Yahya al Thuhli, Administrative Development Adviser to Oman’s Environment Authority’s Chairman,  and a number of ministers from around the world as well as local and international officials.

 

“This year, we organise the 8th edition of the World Green Economy Summit under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who said in 2015 that : “There will be a time, 50 years from now, when we load the last barrel of oil aboard a ship. If our investment today is right, I think – dear brothers and sisters – we will celebrate that moment”. This summit also supports the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in launching the ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development’ strategy to build a green economy in the UAE under the theme ‘A Green Economy for Sustainable Development’. The World Green Economy Summit is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his directives to expand dialogue and promote concerted efforts to develop solutions for a better and more sustainable future for us and for generations to come. Held under the theme of ‘Climate Action Leadership through Collaboration: The Roadmap to Net-Zero,’ the World Green Economy Summit this year will explore opportunities for collaboration and exchange of knowledge and expertise among stakeholders, international and regional organisations, as well as public and private sectors, with the goal of promoting the transition towards a green economy. The theme reflects the need for international cooperation to combat climate challenges which affect the entire world,” said Al Tayer in his keynote speech.

 

Al Tayer said that the world has witnessed major crises across all sectors due to climate change, which has caused natural disasters in various regions worldwide. Last month, Europe experienced its worst drought in at least 500 years, shrinking water levels in key rivers. This negatively impacted trade across rivers and canals, which contributes around $80 billion to the Eurozone economy. Just recently, one third of Pakistan was completely and deeply flooded with rainwater binging widespread destruction and misery. According to the World Health Organization, water scarcity impacts 40% of the world’s population, and as many as 700 million people are at risk of being displaced due to drought by 2030. The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2022 indicates that climate change will impact water quality and availability. Globally, 800 million to 3 billion people are projected to experience chronic water scarcity due to droughts at 2°C warming.

 

“Although climate change is the defining crisis of our time, yet we are not powerless in the face of this global threat. The UAE has been leading global efforts in tackling climate change and has always pioneered efforts to address global challenges and promote quality investments in the green economy. Selecting the UAE to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) underlines the world’s recognition of the UAE’s efforts and its effective role in combating climate change. Last year, the UAE announced the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, with investments of more than AED 600 billion in clean and renewable energy until 2050. This makes it the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to launch such an initiative. The announcement comes as the pinnacle of the UAE’s efforts and journey in climate action over the past three decades since it acceded to the UNFCCC in 1995. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also launched the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to drive sustainability, innovation, and transformation towards a sustainable green economy, as well as provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,” added Al Tayer.

 

Al Tayer explained that Dubai has succeeded in reducing carbon emissions by 21% in 2021; exceeding the target set in the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021, which aimed to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2021.

 

Al Tayer noted that the UAE hosts specialised international institutions in the green economy, such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi and the World Green Economy Organization in Dubai, among other leading organisations. The UAE consistently supports global efforts to address climate change by announcing effective solutions that enable low-carbon sectors, as well as leading projects that support the country’s future strategies and aspirations, such as Masdar City in Abu Dhabi and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. Last March, the UAE Government, represented by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the World Green Economy Organization, and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, hosted the first-ever MENA Climate Week. The event achieved remarkable success and attracted over 15,000 participants from 40 countries worldwide and 500 global speakers and experts. The event was organised in collaboration with the UNFCCC and other international partners.

 

“The solutions necessary to reach net zero in the future are within our reach, but we are running a race against time. Guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, green hydrogen has become one of the key enablers to achieving Dubai’s plan to reach net zero by 2050. In this regard, DEWA is developing a strategy and roadmap for green hydrogen in cooperation with international consultants. The 8th World Green Economy Summit focuses on four key pillars of the green economy: Energy, Finance, Food Security, and Youth. In the Energy pillar, we will look into solutions to enhance energy efficiency and decarbonise the energy systems. The Finance pillar will focus on attracting and encouraging green investments. In the Food Security pillar, the Summit will examine approaches and methodologies to build resilience and sustainability into value chains to meet the growing challenges in this area. The fourth pillar will highlight the need to support and empower the youth who are the driving force of sustainable development and positive change in order to prepare the next generation of climate action leaders,” added Al Tayer.

 

Al Tayer emphasised that given the vital role young people play in the effective implementation of climate action, the World Green Economy Summit is hosting the Regional Youth Conference, which brings together which brings together MENA youth to discuss their priorities. This precedes the World Youth Conference that will be held in conjunction with COP 27 in November in Egypt, as well as the UAE’s preparations to host COP 28 next year in Expo City Dubai.

 

“Over the years, the World Green Economy Organization has mobilised global efforts to promote joint action to combat climate change. In cooperation with the UNFCCC, WGEO established the Regional Cooperation Centre for the Middle East and North Africa in Dubai, which provides technical support to stakeholders to increase investments in technologies, solutions and partnerships to reach a carbon-neutral economy. The Summit will keep building on what it has accomplished in the previous sessions, particularly the advancements made since the Seventh Dubai Declaration, which concluded the last edition, and the aspirations outlined in the Declaration’s framework. The Summit will also underline the UAE’s commitment to speeding the shift towards a green economy, as well as the improvements it has made in implementing eco-friendly solutions across all areas,” continued Al Tayer.

 

Al Tayer thanked HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum for inaugurating the Summit. He also valued the contributions and efforts of all parties involved in the Summit. They have helped it achieve this leading global position, playing a significant role in establishing the green economy regionally and globally.

 

Participations

 

During the Summit’s official opening ceremony, Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO of Alliances For Global Sustainability, delivered the UAE Representative in a video message, while Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNFCCC, delivered the International Representative speech.

 

The first day also featured a Panel Session titled ‘Implementing the Paris Agreement: Building a MENA climate action legacy’ HE Dr. Muawieh Khalid Radaideh, Minister of Environment in Jordan, HE Kavydass Ramano, Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change in Mauritius, Dr. Dena Assaf, Resident Coordinator, UN Resident Coordinator in the UAE, James Grabert, Director, Mitigation Division, UNFCCC, and Hana Al Hashimi, Chief Climate Negotiator, Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, took part in the session, which was moderated by John Defterios, Professor of Business, NYU Abu Dhabi & World Economic Forum Energy Fellow. The panellists discussed topics related to climate action in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and the significance of hosting COP27 in Egypt later this year and COP28 in the UAE next year.

 

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Honorary President of the Emirates Energy Award (EEA), honoured winners of the 4th cycle of the award. EEA is organised by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, under the theme ‘Inspiring Innovation for Sustainable Energy’. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Chairman of the Emirates Energy Award; and HE Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Emirates Energy Award, were present. The ceremony was also attended by officials from the government and private sectors as well as experts in renewable and clean energy. The ceremony was held during the 8th World Green Economy Summit 2022 in Dubai. A total of 28 winners in 10 categories were recognised for their achievements and innovations in providing the best energy efficiency and alternative energy solutions.

 

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the World Green Economy Summit began today (September 28, 2022) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The opening day of the Summit witnessed a ministerial roundtable on green economy. Around 25 ministers and officials from around the world were present.

 

During the meeting, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the World Green Economy Organization, and MD&CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); launched the ‘Global Alliance on Green Economy’, which aims to build a coalition of countries, prioritising a green economy in the context of climate action and sustainable development, to enhance the capacity of developing countries, provide support for their green economy transition projects and exchange knowledge on implementation.

 

The Ministerial Roundtable on Green Economy was attended by HE Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, India; HE Hussein Makhlouf, Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Syria; HE Naseer Ahamed, Minister of Environment, Sri Lanka; HE Dr. Mona Ali Mohammed Ahmed, Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (HCENR), Sudan; HE Kavydass Ramano, Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change,Mauritius; HE. Adam Ohirsi, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Somalia; and a number of senior officials from across the world.

 

During the meeting, Al Tayer commended the commitment of the participating countries and their efforts towards the global transition to a green economy that ensures sustainable development, resilience to climate change, and poverty eradication. He noted that this roundtable, like many others during the World Green Economy Summit, aims to foster a green way of living by ensuring a healthy balance between economic growth, social prosperity, and environmental protection. He said they should be committed to a transition to a global green economy based on collective will, partnerships and swift action.

 

“For us in the UAE, pioneering the adoption of green economy principles and practices within sustainable development, resilience to climate change, and poverty eradication are paramount. We have embarked on a journey to be a global hub and effective example of a new green economy that can achieve economic sustainability while protecting the environment for future generations. This vision of the UAE’s wise leadership can be seen in our national policies,” said Al Tayer.

 

“Advancing the green economy requires international cooperation, guaranteeing a new approach and a stable partnership among all stakeholders globally. Linking the Paris Agreement goals and its corresponding articles, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with climate planning and climate finance, are key synergies in this transition. We truly believe this harmonisation to be essential in the lead-up to COP27 and COP28 in Egypt and the UAE, respectively,” he added.

 

“We are not only launching the UAE Global Alliance on Green Economy today, but we are creating a stronger partnership among ourselves to work towards a vision to which we already agreed by committing ourselves to achieving the SDGs and the Paris Agreement goals. This Global Alliance is not the outcome but the first milestone toward important work ahead. We will now be engaging with countries to identify their needs, priorities, and challenges in the context of the green economy, during the next three months. This multi-stakeholder exercise and inclusive consultation with countries will lead to the launch of a suite of flagship projects by WGEO to support the green economy agenda in the countries joining the Alliance. The work under the Alliance will address pressing issues such as food security and carbon markets and how cooperation can be increased at the South-South and North-South levels. I firmly believe that the Alliance and today’s roundtable on the green economy will help us move closer to this goal, by making appropriate solutions available and accessible at the state level and leading us towards real change,” said Al Tayer.

 

“We will also be working towards advancing WGEO in the context of its role at the national, regional, and global levels during 2023. We will be moving towards the international treaty of WGEO. I am also thankful to development partners who have been instrumental in the success of WGEO. We are pleased to have WGEO hosting the UNFCCC Secretariat Regional Collaboration Centre and convening the first-ever MENA Climate Week, which was a great success. WGEO has conducted several ministerial conferences in various regions with the support of the UN South-South Cooperation. WGEO is also hosting the UAE local network of the UN Global Compact; and WGEO itself was launched with UNDP at the inception phase. I want to assure the country representatives that this Alliance will be a great success story and will continue to grow, be replicated, and be upscaled in various domains. As we look forward to creating a better future for us and our next generations, I would like to extend a warm invitation to world leaders to join us on this journey and to support effective green economic solutions that address the current economic and environmental needs,” added Al Tayer.

 

“The UAE is committed to making the green economy a reality. We will continue to support international gatherings like this, bringing people together to create a platform to foster the green economy and sustainable development. I hope today, at this gathering, we will take another leap forward and accelerate towards a sustainable global green economy,” concluded Al Tayer.

 

“If we want to fast-track our transition to a green economy, we must all work together, and to do so, we need one platform with one common objective. The UAE Global Alliance on Green Economy seeks to provide such a platform. I extend my sincere appreciation to WGEO for supporting the Alliance. I look forward to achieving new milestones with our partners, learning from each other, and inspiring each other to reach new heights in our shared pursuit of a sustainable way of life,” said HE Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

 

Participants in the ministerial roundtable underlined the importance of the Alliance’s launch as a platform for concerted global efforts, especially in the current phase of severe climate challenges. Such developments highlight the pressing need for concerted efforts by all countries to implement the Paris Agreement goals and the 2030 Action Plan for Sustainable Development.

 

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

The sessions of the second day of the 24th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) and Dubai Solar Show (DSS) focused on electric vehicles, green hydrogen, smart cities, and clean and renewable energy. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) hosted 39 specialised seminars and panel discussions run by prominent experts and specialists from around the world, during the second day of the exhibition. DEWA organises the exhibition under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, from 27 to 29 September, at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Halls 1 to 8, Arena Halls 1 and 2, Sheikh Saeed Halls 1, 2 and 3.

 

During “HID, the next breakthrough in desalination?” session, Thomas Altmann is the EVP for Innovation and New Technology at ACWA Power said: “As a leader and a champion of transformation ACWA Power is highly focused on decarbonisation to build a more sustainable future. Over the past a few years ACWA Power was able to achieve several break throughs, including the world’s largest CSP plant in the UAE, and world’s lowest CSP tariff in the UAE. The desalination requires a transformation and a new paradigm shift to optimise energy efficiency. Our efforts are focused on several aspects such as reducing the power to 2 kWh/m3 and reducing the total cost of desalination. Our new Hydraulic Injection Desalination (HID) technology can help us achieve these goals, while reducing the brine, which is normally the by-product of the desalination process.”

 

At “Non-Metallic Composite Pipes : A Cost-Efficient Solution for Potable Water Networks” session, Vinod Sivaraman, the Regional Technical Senior Manager of Future Pipe Industries said: “Thermoplastic Composite Pipes (TCP) offer many advantages when compared to metallic pipes in water networks, including their full corrosion resistance, high flexibility and their ability to withstand high pressures. These pipes can be manufactured in lengths up to 1100m, and they are very easy to transport and install. They offer great value due to their long life cycle and zero-maintenance requirements.

 

“Our proprietary state-of-the-art melt-fusing manufacturing process produces a composite structure with the fibres fully embedded in the polymer matrix, which ensures the proper interface between the different pipe layers. We are also introducing our Glass reinforced epoxy (GRE) pipes which offer many benefits including their chemical resistance, lightweight, and long life cycle, providing better hydraulic performance and reduced energy needed to circulate the fluids,” he added.

 

At “Disrupting / Emerging / Innovative Technologies in Energy, Water and Environment” session, Rajakumar Sridhar, Customer & Solution Advisory with SAP said: “As we look into the transformation across the world’s energy generation spectrum, we realise that the utility industry is being shaped by disruptive changes on all industry, cities and municipalities, and end consumer levels. Such changes include an increased focus on sustainability, the development of smart cities and electrifying the transportation grid, and increased awareness from end-users about the role of renewable energy.”

 

“As the market dynamics shift, we must be ready to embrace the change and offer a more transparent and efficient means to drive operational excellence. SAP is ready with its E-Mobility solution, which allows utilities to become both a charge point operator and an e-mobility service provider. Our solution offers several key features, including simple and efficient charge point device management, fully transparent charge session management, EV badge management, and detailed overview of charge point statistics,” he added.

 

During “Clean Energy (Green Hydrogen)” session, Agnel Cheruvathoor, from SIEMENS Energy said: “As a leading player in the clean and renewable energy industry, Siemens Energy is focusing on addressing the key challenges facing the scalability and growth of green hydrogen production through electrolysis, allowing this technology to become market-ready. We are working on developing scalable technology platforms, learning from each project we implement, and prepare the value-add networks and supply chains to be able to scale up, building on a suitable infrastructure.

 

“Our expertise in electrolysis technology is constantly evolving, as we are targeting a plant based on our Silyzer 300 system capable of producing 100 MW. The Silyzer 300 offers a simple process with natural circulation, providing several advantages including zero pumps, zero hydrogen loss, zero pressurised vessels, and zero nitrogen consumption during the production process,” he added.

 

At “An Integrated Approach to Energy Management” session, Fahad Mohamed, the Director – Dubai & NE with Adeeb Group said: “ADEEB’s vision has always been to be a leading player in the facilities management & MEP contracting industry and to perform our duties with excellence that matches and exceeds our clients’ expectations. The key challenge that is facing our industry is the increased impact on climate change driven by the increased demand.

 

“Our solutions build upon several aspects, including data collection and analytics, focus on renewable energy, electrifying transportation, and implementing a organisation-wide initiatives.

 

“With the regulatory support of the UAE’s wise leadership, renewable energy is receiving a major boost that is promoting the implementation of several projects, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.”

 

At “Global Outlook – Digital Transformation to a Digital World” session, Mohamed Obaid Alsharid, appointed the Chief Digital Officer under the Innovation & The Future Division, at DEWA; Walid Yehia, the Senior Director of Client Solutions for Dell Technologies; Safder Nazir, the Head of Huawei’s Digital Industry Center of Excellence; and Garsen Naidu, the Director, Specialist, and Architectures at Cisco Middle East and Africa, talked about digital transformation at DEWA.

 

“DEWA, a utility company, setting up a digital arm, was a global first, a move ahead to reshape the future of utilities. The strong leadership and vision, as well as the talent pools, are combined with the culture that does not recognise the impossible,” said Walid Yehia.

 

“DEWA’s digital transformation was a surprise to me, and we are very happy to be a part of this journey to achieve this goal. This transformation fits perfectly into Dubai’s and the UAE’s vision and ambition to become a hub for smart and digital cities,” said Safder Nazir.

 

“In innovative initiatives, such as Digital DEWA, we need to be looking forward. You can change structures in your business model and understand the impact. Agility comes as a result of a culture of understanding that change is possible. Putting the customer experience at the centre of this change, allows organisations to develop a growth mindset, creating a safe platform for innovation,” said Garsen Naidu.

 

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

During the first day of the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) 2022, 10 high-level panel discussions were held, which witnessed the participation of prominent speakers, thought leaders, industry experts and decision-makers from around the world. The summit is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It is organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, in collaboration with a number of global organisations, under the theme ‘Climate Action Leadership Through Collaboration: The Roadmap to Net-Zero’, on 28 and 29 September 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

 

“The World Green Economy Summit brings together key decision-makers, experts and specialists to explore avenues to accelerate the transformation towards a green economy. The Summit supports the proactive approach adopted by the UAE in the climate action process to achieve sustainable and comprehensive economic development,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, MD & CEO of DEWA and Chairman of WGEO.

 

The key panel discussion was themed ‘Implementing the Paris Agreement: Building a MENA climate action legacy’. Dr. Dena Assaf, Resident Coordinator, UN Resident Coordinator in the UAE, James Grabert, Director, Mitigation Division, UNFCCC, H.E. Dr. Muawieh Khalid Radaideh, Jordanian Minister of Environment and H.E. Hon. Kavydass Ramano, Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mauritius, shared their valuable insights during the discussion. Speakers in the panel highlighted the significance of Egypt and the UAE hosting the upcoming COP 27 and COP 28 summits and how its positions the Arab world as a leading region in climate action effort. The panel discussed the steps and future measures that will be required to realise the goal of the Paris Agreement and create a climate action legacy for the MENA region through widespread adoption of sustainable practices across every facet of the society. John Defterios, Professor of Business, NYU Abu Dhabi & World Economic Forum Energy Fellow moderate the panel session.

 

Another session was titled ‘Accelerating the growth of the global green economy’ was held, in which speakers discussed how limited resources diminishes the possibility of an unchecked economy and talked about the need to reduce the time frame in realising SDG goals. They also shed light on the urgent need for a green economy owing to the adverse situations that have been affecting regions all over the world due to climate change. The panel discussed various avenues that would contribute to the journey towards a clean and green future. John Defterios, Professor of Business, NYU Abu Dhabi & World Economic Forum Energy Fellow, introduced the session, while Christof Ruhl, Senior Research Scholar, Centre on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University was the key speaker of the session.

 

Another panel discussion was held on ‘Imagining a world transformed by net zero’ and highlighted the need for decoupling greenhouse gases from the global development scenario to enhance resiliency and adaptive capabilities. Frederic Claux, MD Thermal & Supply AMEA & Country Director GCC & Pakistan, ENGIE, Khalid bin Ali Al-Ruwaigh, CEO, APICORP, Paddy Padmanathan, Vice Chairman & CEO, ACWA Power and Steve Severance, Head, Program Management and Marketing, Masdar City were the key speakers at the panel discussion. The session was moderated by CNN anchor and correspondent Eleni Giokis. During the panel, Frederic Claux highlighted the efforts made to achieve the goal of Net Zero and talked about their work in decarbonisation to contribute to the global efforts against climate change. On the other hand, Paddy Padmanathan emphasised that technology and employment facility are available already, and there is a need of widespread knowledge sharing, and highlighted the importance of a forum such as WGES in facilitating a knowledge sharing platform to accelerate the energy transition.

 

The third panel discussion focused on the topic ‘Financing Net Zero – Opportunities and Jobs’, which shed light on the redirection and deployment of capital, labour and skills that are required to accelerate the process of decarbonising energy systems. The main speakers at this panel were Vivek Pathak, Director and Global Head for Climate Business at IFC, Christian Kunz, Head of Group Strategy at DIFC Authority and Zoe Knight, Group Head of Sustainable Finance, Head of Climate Change MENAT of HSBC International. This panel discussion was also moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokis. At the discussion, Vivek Pathak emphasised on the need for a solid taxonomy for transition finance, as it will be crucial for the hard-to-abate sectors to reduce their carbon footprint. He emphasised that transition finance, strong capital and technology play a vital role in achieving a clean energy transition.

 

The participants in the panel discussion titled “SDG11: Future Cities” analysed successful models of global sustainable cities and communities and the future state of cities. Speakers in the panel discussed the feasibility of flexible cities in the future and their capabilities in mitigating risks during natural disasters or a global pandemic like the world recently faced. They also emphasised innovative cities that use ICTs and other related technologies that would enhance quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness, while ensuring a sustainable environment that will help mould a healthy and prosperous future for the coming generations. H.E. Younus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General, Dubai Digital Authority, CEO, Dubai Data Establishment & Vice-Chairman of the SDG11 Global Council gave opening remarks at the session. The main speakers of the session were H.E. Younus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General, Dubai Digital Authority, CEO, Dubai Data Establishment & Vice-Chairman of the SDG11 Global Council and HE Eng. Yousef Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for the Electricity, Water and Future Energy Sector at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. The session was moderated by Elias Aad, Partner, Roland Berger.

 

HE Eng. Yousef Al Ali said: “The insightful and forward-looking vision of the judicious leadership encouraged us in the UAE to work hard towards the transition to clean energy. Through this vision, we made qualitative and ambitious achievements in the energy sector, during the last fifty years, as it is one of the vital sectors supporting sustainable development and national economies, and a major industry for attracting foreign investments.”

 

Al Ali added during his participation in the World Green Economy Summit 2022 (WGES 2022): “We were able to overcome the challenges facing the transformation process in the energy sector by drawing up the National Energy Strategy 2050, which is the first unified energy plan in the UAE that strikes balance between production, consumption and global environmental obligations. It ensures having a comfortable economic environment for growth in all sectors and aims to optimize the efficiency of individual and corporate consumption by 40 and boost the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix produced across the country to 50% by 2050.”

 

H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, held a ‘UAE Case Study’ session under the theme ‘The UAE’s commitment to greener, smarter supply chains’ in which he highlighted trade as the key element in the UAE economy, with the rise of the new generation of bilateral trade. It focussed on exploring greener and smarter supply chains to achieve UAE’s vision of expanding trade while adhering to its commitment to address the issue of climate change.  John Defterios, Professor of Business, NYU Abu Dhabi & World Economic Forum Energy Fellow moderated the session

 

A session on ‘Accelerating Agri-tech adoption to transform food systems’ was held in which speakers highlighted the prevalent challenges affecting food security and explored various avenues to recognise and address them to ensure a strong supply chain. The panel emphasised on food and nutrition security being a major concern for governments worldwide and how sufficient agricultural addition, effective regulations, smart pricing policies, correction of inappropriate incentives, and policy responses enhances the compatibility of intensive agriculture and sustainable management of natural resources and the environment.. Carrie Chan, Co-Founder and CEO of Avant Meats; Dr. Deane Falcone, Chief Scientific Officer, Crop One Holdings; and Ole Kristian Sivertsen, President and CEO, Desert Control were the key speakers in the panel. This session was also moderated by John Defterios, NYU Abu Dhabi & World Economic Forum Energy Fellow.

 

The first day of WGES witnessed intensive discussions on decarbonisation. The panel discussion on ‘A blueprint for blue carbon: Towards nature-based solutions’, witnessed speakers talking about the upcoming clean and green solutions across industries that would help reduce the carbon footprint and keep GHG and CO2 emissions in check. They highlighted the importance of new and upcoming technologies that would harness the renewable sources to ensure ecosystem conservation, while actively mitigating the risks posed by climate change. They specified that the use of high-impact nature-based solutions will be the most efficient and seamless way to achieve the goals of energy transition.. The main speakers in the panel included Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director-General, Emirates Nature-WWF & Chair, WWF Asia Pacific Growth Strategy; Dr. Raidan Al Saqqaf, Development Coordinator/ Economist, UN; and Eliza Northrop, Policy Lead, World Resources Institute. The panel was moderated by Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Holding.

 

The panel session titled ‘Successfully decarbonising energy systems’ focussed on the importance of decarbonisation of the energy network, while maintaining the supply security, which has been a driving factor for the MENA region to develop environmentally sustainable and socially equitable domestic energy sources. The key speakers at this panel were Stephen Kelly, President & General Manager, 1PointFive; Dietmar Siersdorfer, Middle East and UAE Managing Director, Siemens Energy; and Charles Mellagui, CEO Cable Business Unit, Ducab. This panel discussion was moderated by John Defterios, NYU Abu Dhabi & World Economic Forum Energy Fellow.

 

With mobility at the centre of all industries, the first day’s concluding panel on ‘Decarbonising transport networks’ in which speakers highlighted the necessity of decarbonising the mobility sector as it accounts for one-fifth of global carbon emissions. The transportation sector lies in the crossroads of all industries, as well as the society, and the speakers highlighted the role that electric mobility will play in the decarbonisation process of the mobility sector. Nicola Yates, CEO, Connected Places Catapult, Gary West, Managing Director of Future Mobility, General Motors Middle East, Samer Kaissi, Country Manager, DHL Global Forwarding and Nada Jassim, Director Safety, Risk Regulations and Planning Department, RTA, participated in the panel. Jonathan Spear, Senior Policy Advisor, Atkins & Chair of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation moderated the session.

 

The sessions will continue tomorrow on the second day of WGES (Thursday, September 29, 2022). The second day of the Summit will highlight an eventful agenda complete with panel discussions and speeches.

 

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority