Riyadh: The United Arab Emirates has praised Saudi Arabian Leadership and its People for their progressive step of announcing a target to achieve net-zero by 2060.
Speaking at a panel session titled ‘Countdown to COP26 – State of Play Ahead of a Critical Summit’ at the one-day forum in Riyadh, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change appreciated the Saudi Government for convening the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) while making the case for practical solutions to tackle climate change.
Expressing the country’s views, Dr. Al Jaber remarked the “United Arab Emirates highly commends the leadership and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly the youth, for such a landmark, bold and long-term strategic initiative. It represents a paradigm shift in ambition for this region; it underlines the vital role this region can and should play in providing practical climate solutions; and it represents another example of how this region can help address global challenges.”
As a region, we have always had to live with harsh climate conditions and we will have to continue to innovate in both mitigation and adaptation. I firmly believe that an inclusive, partnership-based approach that embraces the energy transition as an economic opportunity is the best way to achieve truly sustainable global progress. The UAE’s Net Zero Strategic initiative is an open invitation for the world to partner with us in developing this new economic model for progress, the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology added.
Dr. Al Jaber pointed out that the political climate action has slowed even as investment in renewables has risen and the world needs practical solutions that are commercial and scalable. He expressed his optimism about COP26 (the UN Climate Conference, taking place in Glasgow from 1st-12th November, 2021) and provided insights on the UAE’s offer to host COP28.
After the highs of Paris, political climate action has slowed even as investment in renewables has risen and the world has experienced a series of climate-related weather events. So, it is evident that COP26 needs to start shifting the goals towards an action-oriented approach. The world needs practical solutions that are commercial and scalable and COP26 provides a timely platform to shift gears. I strongly believe it will be an important step in the right direction,
Dr. Al Jaber stated.
Dr. Al Jaber’s was addressing the audience in the presence of H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Mr. Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam, and Ms. Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
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