Abu Dhabi, January 16th, 2023: The World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) called on countries to join the Global Alliance on Green Economy and accelerate the transition towards a sustainable global green economy, at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023. A high-level delegation from WGEO participated in bilateral meetings with ministers and government officials from different countries to explore cooperation opportunities to effectively transition to a green economy.

WGEO was part of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly, which was held on January 14 and 15, 2023. The 13th session of the IRENA assembly brought together ministers, government officials, representatives from the private sector, along with other international organisations to reaffirm the global renewable energy agenda and take effective action to accelerate the global energy transition.

The Global Alliance on Green Economy, led by the UAE Government and the WGEO, aims to strengthen countries’ ability to transition to a green economy through technological assistance, establish an effective platform for support, and enhance communication between countries. The Alliance was established during last year’s Ministerial Roundtable on Green Economy, at the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) in Dubai, UAE.

Mr. Abdul Rahim Sultan, WGEO Director General stated: “There is a growing recognition that the most pressing issues we face today, such as climate change, public health, environmental degradation, inequality, and poverty, are all interrelated. In order to address these challenges, it is crucial to collectively promote a green economy and drive positive changes, in order to guide the next generation of leaders in climate action. The advancement of the Paris Agreement’s implementation tools, such as technology transfer, financing, and capacity building, through an inclusive approach across all sectors and regions, can play an integral role in facilitating the implementation of climate action and the transition to a green economy.”

“In order to promote sustainable development, combat climate change, and eradicate poverty, it is crucial for the UAE to take the lead in adopting green economy principles and practices. With UAE hosting the COP28 conference later this year demonstrates how the world values the country’s contributions to the global efforts in combating climate change. Similarly, the country declared its ‘Net Zero 2050’ strategic initiative in 2021, with over AED 600 billion going towards clean and renewable energy” Mr. Sultan added.

The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in 2023 is the first major global sustainability event since COP27, which brought together stakeholders on climate action ahead of the COP28 conference. The event, which took place from January 14 to 19, 2023, was held under the theme ‘United on Climate Action Toward COP28,’ focused on enabling strategic dialogue between key stakeholders to formulate viable, pro-climate, pro-growth solutions for a net zero future. The WGEO’s participation in the event is a positive step towards this objective, and further encourages countries and major organisations to unite and build a sustainable future.