Abu Dhabi: One of the world’s leading renewable energy companies Masdar has initiated the global #IAmWiSER campaign through its Women in Sustainability Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) platform, urging governmental officials, business executives, and members of the general public to commit support for women who are leading the fight against climate change and as agents of long-lasting change.
Influential women who are driving the clean energy transformation at the highest levels of the UAE government, major corporations, and the United Nations have pledged their support for the campaign according to UN SDGs 5 and 7, which seek to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” and “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all,” respectively.
Five prominent women who are currently progressing the sustainability agenda on a global scale have supported the #IAmWiSER campaign, including;
- Ms. Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment
- Ms. Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent UAE Representative to the UN
- Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for SEforALL, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy
- Ms. Peggy Choi, Founder and CEO of global knowledge-sharing platform, Lynk and
- Ms. Alexandra Palt, Executive Vice-President Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer of L’Oréal, and Executive Vice-President of the Fondation L’Oréal.
The #IAmWiser pledge, which states: “I am committed to championing women as agents of sustainable change,” is available on the Masdar website. After that, signatories who commit to the cause will receive instructions on how to share their pledge on social media using an automatically created link.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Masdar Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives, and WiSER Program Director, commented that “WiSER recognizes, inspires and empowers women to become leaders and change agents in driving sustainable development for all. The “#IAmWiSER campaign will enable us to reach a broader audience and provide a clear call for action for women and those who support them around the world. We look forward to translating these pledges from policymakers, thought leaders, business experts and engaged individuals around the world into concrete progress.”
In November, WiSER is expected to host delegates at its booth in the UAE Pavilion at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Egypt. Visitors will be encouraged to make the #IAmWiser pledge at the Pavilion.
The UAE has set high targets to become the 1st Middle Eastern nation to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 as it prepares to host COP 28 next year.