Abu Dhabi is to co-host with the US a preparatory meeting for the world's first Clean Energy Ministerial meeting next month as part of a process intended to help accelerate the global transition to clean energy technologies. The meeting is to be held in Washington on July 19 and 20 and will be attended by more than 20 countries.
The event plans to build collaboration on clean energy policies and programmes. Senior officials from participating governments will gather tomorrow in Abu Dhabi for a two-day preparatory meeting to discuss initiatives expected to be launched at the ministerial meeting. The choice of the capital as the location for that event represents a further coup for Abu Dhabi as it looks to solidify its credentials as a centre for green energy planning.
It already hosts the World Future Energy Summit every January and is the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). "The UAE sees this as another crucial step in our vision towards engaging actively in the global conversation on energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate change," said Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, the chief executive of the clean energy company Masdar and the UAE special envoy for energy and climate change. "This is a great opportunity to engage and collaborate with like-minded countries on accelerating global clean energy deployment."
The UAE is the only OPEC member country invited to the ministerial meeting following its efforts to promote low-carbon technologies through projects such as the Masdar Initiative. Other participating governments include the 17 members of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate - Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, the UK and the US. As the EU president, Belgium will also attend along with Denmark, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
The initiatives to be discussed at the preparatory meeting are intended to generate jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, boost energy security and address energy poverty around the world. tarnold@thenational.ae