DUBAI – The World Green Economy Summit (WGES) is one of the leading global forums on the green economy. It brings together world-class experts in critical sectors from around the world to directly focus on advancing the global green economy and sustainability agenda, including achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Organised by the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority – Official Sustainable Energy Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai – and World Green Economy Organisation, WGES is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in cooperation with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and WETEX.
HE Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, said: “Think about how we empower youth in the UAE. There’s hope to youth. How? Fifty-one per cent of Expo employees are young people, below the age of 35. Emiratis and non-Emiratis. Seventy-six percent of the volunteers at Expo are young people, Emiratis and non-Emiratis. What we need is not [just talking about] values. It is about really taking action. I think the equation of climate change needs hope and it needs action – and hope is youth … Youth plus action equals the solution to climate change.
“My call to action is for you to recommend Arab youth to be part of this. We need to start a new narrative with Arab youth and climate … empowering them to find solutions. To me, this is the most important equation of including youth. For them not be inheritors of a warming planet, but becoming innovators of action that is needed in the Arab world. Today, the world has offered a negative book on climate change. We will be able to give young people the chance to offer the world’s best-selling sequel. And I am very excited to read what chapters youth will write, with your help.”
Former French president François Hollande said: “We must reach three new goals. Strengthen the commitments; second, introduce a method to check that commitments are respected, that the promises are implemented; and third to increase aid to other countries. I hope that the international community and also the public opinion will put pressure on the governments who sign new agreements in Glasgow [at COP26].”
Mary Robinson, Chair of the Elders, former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change andformer Ireland president, said: “Let me summarise the five layers of injustice that require a climate just approach. The first injustice is that climate change impacts disproportionately, and much earlier, the poorer countries, the small island states, the indigenous people – who are the least responsible for the emissions. They also happen to be the black and brown people of the world, so it is also a racial injustice. Second is gender injustice: that women have different social roles, different power … but still have to make their community resilient.
“Thirdly, intergenerational injustice, which young climate activists have been calling us out [on]. And when Greta Thunberg [talks about this] she’s right because we’re not implementing the pledges that have been made. Fourthly, industrial countries built their economies on fossil fuels and need to wean themselves off as quickly as possible. Developing countries need access to clean energy, but haven’t had the investment or the transfer technology and the skills training that is needed. Fifth is to nature herself, to the loss of biodiversity and extinction of species – and we have had reports on that which are truly stunning in their implications.”
Ovais Sarmad, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Secretary, UN Climate Change, said: “Never has a generation had the opportunity to change so much in so little time. Our collective climate agenda is significant, but challenges are many. But we have to get it right. And what we are looking for is climate action that is unprecedented, transformational and meaningful in saving humanity and really changing the trajectory of the world in which we live towards the right direction. Now what all of that means in real terms: we have the Paris agreement adopted five years ago. But adoption is not the same as implementation, so [COP26] is all about making sure that that agreement is fully implemented.”