Dr Sultan Al Jaber appointed UAE special envoy for climate change

Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology will represent the country in all international forums and meetings related to 'vital issue' that tops the global agenda

Dr Al Jaber has long-standing experience of advocacy on environment related matters, having spearheaded a clean energy agenda for almost 15 years Courtesy: Adnoc

Dr Sultan Al Jaber was on Sunday appointed as the UAE's special envoy for climate change.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced the appointment after a Cabinet meeting.

"We have adopted the mandate of Sultan Al Jaber as special envoy for the UAE in the field of climate change. To represent the state in all external forums and all international understandings related to this vital issue, which will be at the top of the international agenda concerning the future of the world," Sheikh Mohammed said.

During the meeting, the Cabinet also adopted an environmental policy, which includes prioritising conservation, air quality, sustainable agricultural and the safe management of waste and chemicals.

Dr Al Jaber has extensive experience of advocacy on environment-related matters, having led a clean energy agenda for almost 15 years.

Having previously been in a similar role between 2010 and 2016, Dr Al Jaber is currently the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and group chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. At Adnoc, he oversaw a transformation of the state-owned producer over the past four years that has made it a more efficient and technology-led organisation.

Adnoc is currently one of the top five lowest greenhouse gas emitters in the oil and gas industry and has one of the lowest methane intensities in the world. It is also expanding its carbon capture, utilisation and storage programme.

This month, Dr Al Jaber told the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference that Adnoc would pursue the potential of new fuels, such as hydrogen.

“We all have a role to play and we as an industry can do more on climate change,” he said.

Dr Al Jaber has been chairman of Abu Dhabi's clean energy company Masdar, which has developed more than 12GW of renewable energy capacity in 25 countries since 2006. Dr Al Jaber also helped the UAE successfully bid in 2009 to locate the headquarters of the UN's International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi. That same year, he was appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to his Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change.