Abu Dhabi Global Action Day ‘a platform to turn political commitments into practical action’

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will set aside Monday to build on momentum generated from the Paris Conference.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon says Monday will serve as pivotal platform to turn political commitments into practical action. AFP

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will dedicate a day for world leaders to work on setting targets, meeting goals and strengthening cooperation to tackle climate change.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and special envoy for energy and climate change, United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon, and COP21 president Laurent Fabius revealed that the special high-level event will be held on Monday.

Abu Dhabi Global Action Day will allow leaders to turn the goals of COP21's Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to reduce global warming to less than 2°C before 2050, into the groundwork for the private sector and policy for governments.

The Abu Dhabi event will build on the momentum generated from the Paris Conference, according to Mr Ban.

“Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is the first major international gathering following the adoption of the historic Paris Agreement on climate change. It will serve as a pivotal platform to turn political commitments into practical action,” Mr Ban said.

Despite 196 countries signing the agreement, leaders from COP21 are expected to discuss matters which still needed addressing – namely questions surrounding policy, investment, technology and partnership.

Mr Ban said the proximity to the COP event allows rulers to convene and review their commitments. “I welcome the UAE’s leadership in sustaining the political momentum from Paris to achieve a better future for people and our planet,” he said.

Ministers and heads of state are likely to focus on identifying pre-2020 actions that can be taken by the public and private sector in the framework of COP21 outcomes.

Countries are expected to resubmit their goals for the agreement every five years, and leaders are looking to make use of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week as a time to work on drafting those amendments.

“The Paris Agreement was widely welcomed as an ambitious and historic outcome,” said the COP21 president.

“We now need to quickly shift to implementation. The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will play an important role in this regard, as it has the convening power to pinpoint solutions from both those inside and outside the negotiation process.”.

The Abu Dhabi Global Action Day has been in the works since December at COP21 where the United Nations, the UAE and France met several times to discuss the framework.

“The UAE is committed to driving forward the path to a sustainable future through diversifying our economy,” said Dr Al Jaber.

“We welcome our partners to Abu Dhabi and look forward to identifying areas of collaboration and encouraging solutions to commercialise new technologies that address climate change.”

Ministers from Morocco and France, high-level representatives from the private sector, as well as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Christiana Figueres will also join the event.

The eight-day forum, which will begin on Saturday, is being hosted by Masdar.