UAE becomes first country to join World Green Economy Organisation

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, has announced that the UAE is now the first member of the World Green Economy Organisation, WGEO.

Al Zeyoudi said, "The Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative launched in 2012, and the Green Agenda 2015-2030, set the course for our economic growth ambitions, social development priorities and environmental sustainability goals. The advancement of the UAE’s green economy efforts couldn’t have been made without the strong support from the UN and relevant international organisations. Most notably, the Global Green Growth Institute, GGGI, the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, the Green Growth Knowledge Platform, GGKP, the Partnership for Action on Green Economy, PAGE, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA.

"I am confident that through WGEO, we will have significant impact on knowledge and experience sharing which would help to overcome common challenges and to ensure successful achievement of our common green economy goals," he added.

Dr. Zeyoudi made these remarks during the announcement of the global launch of WGEO at the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties, COP 22, in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, World Green Economy Organisation and Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, said that the WGEO, which was launched by President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the 3rd World Green Economy Summit in Dubai, will support the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and increase global awareness on climate change to enhance the shift towards a green economy.

The announcement was attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy, Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Suhail Mattar Al Ketbi, the UAE Ambassador to Morocco, Mohammed Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, and representatives of the UN agencies, the public and private sectors, financial institutions, non-profit-organisations, and civil society organisations.

"It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the global announcement of the World Green Economy Organisation. This great initiative came under the wise vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as an international organisation during the third World Green Economy Summit, WGES, in Dubai on 5th October 2016, and is supported by the UAE and the United Nations Development Programme. I would like to thank the United Nations for its pioneering role in raising global awareness about climate change," said Al Tayer.

"Launching WGEO at this time reflects the relentless efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. WGEO will also play an instrumental role in mitigating climate change, as it serves as a mechanism for generating new solutions for sustainable energy, water and other environmental challenges, thereby lowering the risk of green economy investments, and supporting international cooperation in innovation, technology and finance. As Dubai is emerging as a global hub for green economy, we are celebrating today the announcement of the global launch of the WGEO and I would like to take this opportunity to give you a glimpse into the efforts of the UAE to become a green economy," he added.

"To meet the environmental challenges facing most countries in the world and to spread a culture of sustainability, we must have a global movement towards a green economy. These principles are firmly embedded within the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 for clean energy to provide 7% of Dubai’s total power output by 2020, rising to 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050. The strategy consists of five main pillars: infrastructure, legislation, funding, building capacities and skills, and an environmentally-friendly energy mix. The strategy is underpinned by an expected investment of US$13 billion in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar park in the world, with a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030," he added.

"These efforts culminate today in this announcement pertaining to the World Green Economy Organisation, which will be permanently based in Dubai, to pioneer a new approach to promoting green economy by bringing together governments, the private sector, foundations, United Nations agencies, banking systems and society, to unite to achieve green economic goals and serve as a catalyst for generating new integrated solutions to climate change, sustainable energy, water and other environmental challenges around the world.

"In line with its global mandate, WGEO will significantly contribute to the implementation of the Paris climate agreement, COP 21, to shift to a green economy, a low-carbon economy that is climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and socially-inclusive. WGEO will bridge the gaps between countries in innovation, technology and finance. It will provide technical assistance to countries who can benefit from Dubai’s green economy model, as well as models from other countries whose economies demand the development of strong, robust and diverse green strategies for the future," he added.

"WGEO will also benefit from technical support from the UNDP office in the UAE, as well as advisory support services from UNDP’s Arab States Regional Centre. In addition, WGEO will serve as a global platform to accelerate the shift towards a green economy. The WGEO’s mandate blends with the UAE's green and sustainable development strategy, exemplified by the ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development’ initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, for the UAE to be among the world's leading countries and a global hub for the export and re-export of green products and technologies. We welcome the collaboration with the United Nations Development Program to strengthen the WGEO’s position as a reference point for a green economy, to support productive dialogue between countries on best practices for a green economy, provide technical support, and help the green economy to create jobs," he added.

He continued, "We remain committed to our continued development of innovative business models for energy and transport, such as power-purchase agreements for solar energy, which have already resulted in lowering the price of solar power per kilowatt hour.

"We are proud to say that WGEO will join the global efforts to combat climate change at COP 22. The UAE’s efforts to support the transition to a green economy are underlined by its contribution and commitment to reduce carbon emissions, which formed the basis of the historic Paris Agreement, signed at the Paris Climate Conference and committing to cap the increase in global average temperatures to well below 2 Degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and limit the increase to 1.5 Degrees Celsius. It is pertinent that the launch of WGEO is aligned to the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to develop the Dubai Green Free Zone, which will be dedicated to attracting mature and emerging companies in clean energy. The Dubai Green Free Zone will become a global hub to attract R&D and innovative clean energy companies. It also supports the launch of the 27 billion US Dollar Green Energy Fund, which reflects Dubai’s efforts to support local, national and international projects to achieve a green economy. I would like to extend my good wishes for the success of COP 22, and I hope to meet you in Dubai during the World Green Economy Summit 2017," concluded Al Tayer.

Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, said, "Once operational, the World Green Economy Organisation can serve as a new platform for green, low-carbon, climate resilient solutions in developing countries, building on UAE’s role as a new global partner for climate action."

WGEO will strengthen cooperation among world countries in green economy. When he launched WGEO at World Green Economy Summit 2016, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, emphasised that the organisation will fulfil its mission to promote green economy regionally and globally, support dialogue among countries, while providing them with consultation and financial, moral, and technical support. It will be a major point of reference for research and studies on clean energy and the protection of humans and the environment. It is expected that the new organisation will be supported by many countries and international organisations. Many countries will join the organisation, which is supported by Dubai Government in cooperation and partnership of UNDP.

The World Green Economy Summit 2016 was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and it concluded by announcing the 3rd Dubai Declaration, which emphasised Dubai’s ongoing efforts to be a smarter, greener, and happier city, and to claim its position as a global hub for green economy. The Dubai Declaration also includes establishment of a green projects zone, provision of job opportunities in green economy areas, and promotion of the position of the new World Green Economy Organisation, which will be based in Dubai, as a main reference for the green economy.