under-patronage-of-hh-sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-and-in-the-presence-of-hh-sheikh-ahmed-b

Under patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the events of World Green Economy Summit (WGES 2014) - the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, was inaugurated under the theme “World Partnerships For Sustainable Future” at Hall 8 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Summit brought together government leaders, and business and finance sector to develop international partnerships and shape a sustainable future for the peoples of the world. The Summit also witnessed participation from the most important and leading organizations in the field of green economy. The Summit was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, accompanied by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the DSCE and MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. Among the presence were HRE Reem Al Hashimi, UAE Minister of State, HRE Hakima AlHaite, Minister of Environment, Kingdom of Morocco, HE Alun Davies, Minister of Natural Resources and Food, Government of Wales, Michele Sabban – VP – LLE de France and President of R20 Region of Climate Action, Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina as the General Commander of Dubai Police, HE Mattar Hamed Al Neyadi, Undersecretary of Ministry of Energy, HE Adnan Amin, Director General – International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), HRE Eng. Aisha Al Abdouli - Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Environment and Water , and a number of ambassadors and consuls to the UAE. The opening ceremony witnessed several national and international economic and commercial events and activities with wide participation of senior UAE officials and media people. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE), gave the opening speech on behalf of HH Sheikh Ahmed gave the opening speech and welcomed participants. “This Summit comes in time to address the great challenges we are facing, which requires combining efforts, collaboration and creative solutions, especially from youth who are hopefully supposed to have their promising and key role in these solutions. We have to develop initiatives and adopt state-of-the-art technologies in order to use alternative and renewable sources of energy to secure energy requirements for social and economic development to realize the promising future to which we are aspiring. That’s why we have to combine efforts, promote collaboration, share expertise and best practices to achieve our aspired common goal – the transformation towards sustainable energy, which is the key pillar of green economy,” Said His Excellency. “The UAE has made great strides towards green economy and has attained a prominent and leading position in this field through the UAE Vision 2021 aiming to be one of the best countries of the world by 2021. Its strategic trend towards a sustainable environment and integrated infrastructure are based on four tracks: Effective response to climate change and environmental dangers; Conserving natural resources and encouraging diversified eco-systems; Securing a clean healthy environment and minimizing pollution; Optimal and integrated use of strategic infrastructure as well as developing various and multiple means of transportation throughout the UAE,” said His Excellency. “Also, the UAE Vision 2021 aims to achieve balanced growth through a package of renewable sources of energy, including alternative, renewable and nuclear energy. In 2012, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the long term initiative under the theme “Green Economy For Sustainable Development”, which has become a vision and guideline for various activities of green economy. This initiative aims to make the UAE one of the global leading countries in this field and a global hub for exporting and re-exporting green products and technologies. This initiative was followed by strategies, projects and great achievements which formed unprecedented milestones in the field of green economy. Some of these achievements are: Hosting the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in the UAE; Masdar City with its promising projects; Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park; Developing Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy to reduce consumption by 30% by 2030; Smart Grids to transform Dubai to the smartest city in the world; Energy Efficiency systems and green buildings regulations; Hosting EXPO 2020,” added His Excellency. “This global Summit aims to explore solutions, share opinions, expertise and best practices to reach practical solutions in all different areas of economy, including obtaining clean energy from sustainable sources. Approved world statistics show that 1.5 billion people in the world are deprived from electricity, and around 3.41 million people die every year because of water pollution, drainage problems, and the poor health care they receive. There are other statistics and figures that really constitute challenges for the whole world, especially we are in the 21st Century. It is crystal clear fact that most of the humanity’s suffering results from the lack and scarce of energy sources, which are the backbone of modern life. Therefore, we have all to combine efforts to harness these challenges. This important Summit is a global, advanced and integrated platform for decision makers and experts to share views, expertise and best practices to lay solid foundations and develop trends with clear objectives and practical mechanisms towards green economy. Also, this Summit paves the way to the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference - Paris COP - that will be held next year and is a global step forward towards clean and renewable sources of energy that can meet humans’ energy requirements, protect the Earth against pollution and contribute to economic and social development of the entire humanity,” added His Excellency. “We hope that this Summit will be a herald of a new era of sustainable development that requires collaboration, integration and sharing opinions to shape sustainability and green economy roadmap, which will be the future drive of all the peoples of the world towards achieving economic and social development and combating poverty,” said His Highness. At the end of his speech, His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer thanked the strategic partners, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environment and Water, United Nations development Programme, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Afterwards, a session was conducted by HE Adnan Amin, Director General – International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in the presence of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and with participation of HRE Reem Al Hashimi, UAE Minister of State, HRE Hakima AlHaite, Minister of Environment, Kingdom of Morocco, HE Alun Davies, Minister of Natural Resources and Food, Government of Wales. Also, HE Dr Mattar Hamed Al Neyadi, Undersecretary of Ministry of Energy, gave a speech on behalf of HE the Minister of Energy, and also HRE Eng. Aisha Al Abdouli - Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Environment and Water, gave a speech on behalf of HE the Minister of Environment and Water. At the end of the session, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed AL Maktoum honored participants in the session, which helped lay the foundations and shape a roadmap to transformation towards green economy and sustainable development.