Preparations are complete for the 8th edition of the World Green Energy Summit (WGES), which will be held under the theme ‘Climate Action Leadership through Collaboration: The Roadmap to Net-Zero’.  

 

To be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Summit will be held on September 28 and 29, 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. 

 

WGES is organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), the World Green Economy Organisation (WGEO) and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, in collaboration with several international organisations.

 

Four main themes

During a press conference in Madinat Jumeirah,  Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, MD&CEO of Dewa, and Chairman of WGEO, said the Summit will focus on four main themes -- Energy, Finance, Food Security, and Youth.  

 

Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy; Waleed Bin Salman, Vice Chairman of WGEO; and Abdulrahim Sultan, Director General of WGEO, were present.

 

Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) Group;  Ahmed Bin Shafar, CEO of Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower);  Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, CEO of Dragon Oil, officials from Dewa, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), government and private sector organisations in the UAE, and the Summit’s sponsors and partners in addition to local, regional and international media.

“This year’s Summit is being held even as the Middle East’s presence continues to grow the global sustainability agenda through effective strategies to adapt to climate change and combat its adverse effects. Egypt and the UAE are preparing to host the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 and COP28 in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The Arab world is central to global activities that aim to enhance climate action and achieve global targets. The World Green Economy Summit will contribute to strengthening cooperation among partners and stakeholders, as well as set the ideal environment for holding these two global events,” said Al Tayer.

 

Discussions on energy will explore the decarbonisation of power grids, increasing the share of clean and renewable energy, and reducing fossil fuels. In relation to finance, the Summit will focus on attracting and encouraging green investments, while discussions on food security will explore various methods to enhance the flexibility and sustainability of the value chain to tackle the challenges related to food security. 

 

Empowering youth

The Summit will highlight the need to support and empower the youth as they are the driving force for sustainable development and positive growth. The Summit continues to enhance the involvement of youth in climate action,” Al Tayer explained.

 

“This year’s Summit will also highlight the UAE’s commitment to supporting global efforts to accelerate the transition towards a green economy in line with the directives of our wise leadership. The Summit will be a platform to share the UAE’s leading experience in tackling climate change, as well as the various national strategies and initiatives to achieve net-zero and consolidate the foundations of a low-carbon economy. These strategies include the UAE Net Zero 2050, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,” he added.

 

Al Tayer also noted that in March 2022, the UAE Government, represented by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, WGEO and Dewa, hosted the first ever Mena Climate Week. The event achieved remarkable success and gained widespread praise from prominent institutions and figures concerned with climate action worldwide. 

 

Climate Week success

The event attracted over 15,000 participants from 40 countries around the world who attended in person and virtually. It also attracted 500 global speakers and experts, including ministers and officials from the government and private sectors, and climate champions, in addition to officials from UN climate organisations. 

 

“At this edition of the World Green Economy Summit, we will build on the outcomes of the Mena Climate Week and the previous Summit, as well as follow up on the progress achieved since the 7th Dubai Declaration. The Summit will serve as a strategic platform to address the issues brought upon by international climate challenges and discuss the means and methods to prepare for a more sustainable future. The Summit will feature over 20 panel discussions and workshops, which will see the participation of global figures, prominent officials, decision-makers, intellectuals, and leaders of international institutions and organisations. They will share their insights and expertise on the best practices to advance the transition to a sustainable green economy,” he said.

 

Al Tayer explained that during WGES 2022, winners in the 4th Emirates Energy Award will be recognised. The Award is organised by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with the theme ‘Inspiring Innovation for Sustainable Energy’. This cycle of the Award received 187 distinguished applications from 16 countries around the world.

 

Prominent speakers

The Summit will bring together prominent speakers, experts, thought leaders and decision-makers. It will also feature a Ministerial Roundtable with about 25 ministers from around the world. These include  Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the UAE;  Dr Muawieh Khalid Radaideh, Minister of Environment, Jordan;  Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, India;  Dr Nasser Yassin, Minister of Environment, Lebanon;  Hussein Makhlouf, Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Syria;  Ivete Joaquim Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment, Mozambique;  Naseer Ahamed, Minister of the Environment, Sri Lanka; and  Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin, Egypt’s Climate Action Champion, COP 27, as well as prominent experts and specialists from around the world.-- TradeArabia News Service