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UAE Freezones Biz News Updates
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UAE becomes first country to join World Green Economy Organisation
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the
Environment, has announced that the UAE is now the first member of the World
Green Economy Organisation, WGEO.
Al Zeyoudi said, "The Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative
launched in 2012, and the Green Agenda 2015-2030, set the course for our
economic growth ambitions, social development priorities and environmental
sustainability goals. The advancement of the UAE’s green economy efforts
couldn’t have been made without the strong support from the UN and relevant
international organisations. Most notably, the Global Green Growth
Institute, GGGI, the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, the Green
Growth Knowledge Platform, GGKP, the Partnership for Action on Green
Economy, PAGE, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and the
International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA.
"I am confident that through WGEO, we will have significant impact on
knowledge and experience sharing which would help to overcome common
challenges and to ensure successful achievement of our common green economy
goals," he added.
Dr. Zeyoudi made these remarks during the announcement of the global launch
of WGEO at the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties, COP 22, in
Marrakesh, Morocco.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, World Green
Economy Organisation and Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of
Energy, said that the WGEO, which was launched by President, Prime Minister
and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at
the 3rd World Green Economy Summit in Dubai, will support the implementation
of the Paris Agreement, and increase global awareness on climate change to
enhance the shift towards a green economy.
The announcement was attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Advisor
to the UAE President, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of
Energy, Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development
Programme, UNDP, Suhail Mattar Al Ketbi, the UAE Ambassador to Morocco,
Mohammed Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, and representatives of the UN
agencies, the public and private sectors, financial institutions,
non-profit-organisations, and civil society organisations.
"It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the global announcement of the
World Green Economy Organisation. This great initiative came under the wise
vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice
President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as an
international organisation during the third World Green Economy Summit, WGES,
in Dubai on 5th October 2016, and is supported by the UAE and the United
Nations Development Programme. I would like to thank the United Nations for
its pioneering role in raising global awareness about climate change," said
Al Tayer.
"Launching WGEO at this time reflects the relentless efforts to achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development. WGEO will also play an instrumental role in
mitigating climate change, as it serves as a mechanism for generating new
solutions for sustainable energy, water and other environmental challenges,
thereby lowering the risk of green economy investments, and supporting
international cooperation in innovation, technology and finance. As Dubai is
emerging as a global hub for green economy, we are celebrating today the
announcement of the global launch of the WGEO and I would like to take this
opportunity to give you a glimpse into the efforts of the UAE to become a
green economy," he added.
"To meet the environmental challenges facing most countries in the world and
to spread a culture of sustainability, we must have a global movement
towards a green economy. These principles are firmly embedded within the
Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 for clean energy to provide 7% of Dubai’s
total power output by 2020, rising to 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050. The
strategy consists of five main pillars: infrastructure, legislation,
funding, building capacities and skills, and an environmentally-friendly
energy mix. The strategy is underpinned by an expected investment of US$13
billion in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the
largest single-site solar park in the world, with a planned capacity of
5,000 megawatts by 2030," he added.
"These efforts culminate today in this announcement pertaining to the World
Green Economy Organisation, which will be permanently based in Dubai, to
pioneer a new approach to promoting green economy by bringing together
governments, the private sector, foundations, United Nations agencies,
banking systems and society, to unite to achieve green economic goals and
serve as a catalyst for generating new integrated solutions to climate
change, sustainable energy, water and other environmental challenges around
the world.
"In line with its global mandate, WGEO will significantly contribute to the
implementation of the Paris climate agreement, COP 21, to shift to a green
economy, a low-carbon economy that is climate-resilient, resource-efficient,
and socially-inclusive. WGEO will bridge the gaps between countries in
innovation, technology and finance. It will provide technical assistance to
countries who can benefit from Dubai’s green economy model, as well as
models from other countries whose economies demand the development of
strong, robust and diverse green strategies for the future," he added.
"WGEO will also benefit from technical support from the UNDP office in the
UAE, as well as advisory support services from UNDP’s Arab States Regional
Centre. In addition, WGEO will serve as a global platform to accelerate the
shift towards a green economy. The WGEO’s mandate blends with the UAE's
green and sustainable development strategy, exemplified by the ‘Green
Economy for Sustainable Development’ initiative launched by His Highness
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, for the UAE to be among the world's
leading countries and a global hub for the export and re-export of green
products and technologies. We welcome the collaboration with the United
Nations Development Program to strengthen the WGEO’s position as a reference
point for a green economy, to support productive dialogue between countries
on best practices for a green economy, provide technical support, and help
the green economy to create jobs," he added.
He continued, "We remain committed to our continued development of
innovative business models for energy and transport, such as power-purchase
agreements for solar energy, which have already resulted in lowering the
price of solar power per kilowatt hour.
"We are proud to say that WGEO will join the global efforts to combat
climate change at COP 22. The UAE’s efforts to support the transition to a
green economy are underlined by its contribution and commitment to reduce
carbon emissions, which formed the basis of the historic Paris Agreement,
signed at the Paris Climate Conference and committing to cap the increase in
global average temperatures to well below 2 Degrees Celsius above
pre-industrial levels, and limit the increase to 1.5 Degrees Celsius. It is
pertinent that the launch of WGEO is aligned to the Dubai Clean Energy
Strategy 2050 to develop the Dubai Green Free Zone, which will be dedicated
to attracting mature and emerging companies in clean energy. The Dubai Green
Free Zone will become a global hub to attract R&D and innovative clean
energy companies. It also supports the launch of the 27 billion US Dollar
Green Energy Fund, which reflects Dubai’s efforts to support local, national
and international projects to achieve a green economy. I would like to
extend my good wishes for the success of COP 22, and I hope to meet you in
Dubai during the World Green Economy Summit 2017," concluded Al Tayer.
Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme,
said, "Once operational, the World Green Economy Organisation can serve as a
new platform for green, low-carbon, climate resilient solutions in
developing countries, building on UAE’s role as a new global partner for
climate action."
WGEO will strengthen cooperation among world countries in green economy.
When he launched WGEO at World Green Economy Summit 2016, Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of
Dubai, emphasised that the organisation will fulfil its mission to promote
green economy regionally and globally, support dialogue among countries,
while providing them with consultation and financial, moral, and technical
support.
It will be a major point of reference for research and studies on clean
energy and the protection of humans and the environment. It is expected that
the new organisation will be supported by many countries and international
organisations. Many countries will join the organisation, which is supported
by Dubai Government in cooperation and partnership of UNDP.
The World Green Economy Summit 2016 was held under the patronage of Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and it concluded by announcing the 3rd Dubai
Declaration, which emphasised Dubai’s ongoing efforts to be a smarter,
greener, and happier city, and to claim its position as a global hub for
green economy.
The Dubai Declaration also includes establishment of a green projects zone,
provision of job opportunities in green economy areas, and promotion of the
position of the new World Green Economy Organisation, which will be based in
Dubai, as a main reference for the green economy.
Nov 16, 2016
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Courtesy Dubai Media Incorporated
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